Abstract
In this study, a novel ternary ZnO-based nanorod arrays (NRAs) photoanode is designed and constructed for the first time for unassisted solar-light-driven water splitting to generate H2 using photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. The ternary heterojunction photoanode is constructed by modifying ZnO NRAs with ZnFe2O4 nanosheets (NSs) and CdS nanoparticles (NPs), successively. The band alignment study demonstrates that ZnFe2O4 NSs as an interfacial modification layer not only enlarge the contact area with ZnO and CdS respectively to build a stair-step band alignment of conduction band levels for the efficient transport of electrons but also make the valence band of ZnFe2O4 to be as the hole accumulation site in the ternary heterojunction. The electrochemical and photoluminescence measurements demonstrate the efficient separation of the carriers. Consequently, the ternary ZnO-based NRAs photoanode achieves a significant H2 generation rate of 92.9 μmol/h, 6.23 and 2.97 times of ZnO NRAs and ZnO/ZnFe2O4 NRAs/NSs photoanodes, respectively.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.