Nanoscale-based ZnS-GdS shell layer decorated hierarchical ZnO nanorod array photoanode with enhanced photo-electrochemical activity under visible light

S. Umadevi, P. Prabhakar, Young Kyu Han, Kugalur Shanmugam Ranjith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

We established a nanograined ZnS-GdS shell layer decorated with hierarchical ZnO nanorod (NR) arrays with significantly improved visible light photo-electrochemical performance. The ZnO nanorod surface is decorated with a ZnS-GdS shell layer through the sulfidation. Photoluminescence (PL) spectral study stated that the introduction of a ZnS-GdS shell layer improvises effective charge separation efficiency with the additional influence of surface defect states. The ZnO/ZnS-GdS core-shell NR array shows higher photo-electrochemical performance than the ZnO NR arrays under visible light, with a significant photocurrent density of 2.6 mA/cm2. The highest solar to hydrogen conversion efficiency is reached 3.2%, 14 times higher than pristine ZnO nanorod with a bias potential of 0 V versus Ag/AgCl. The results suggest that the ZnS-GdS shell layer enhances the visible light absorption and makes heterostructure, which helps transfer photogenerated charge carriers and reduces the recombination rate to enhance the photo-electrochemical efficiency of ZnO/ZnS-GdS heterostructure.

Original languageEnglish
Article number168871
JournalJournal of Alloys and Compounds
Volume942
DOIs
StatePublished - 5 May 2023

Keywords

  • Core-shell
  • Heterostructure
  • Nanorod arrays
  • Photo-electrochemical water splitting
  • Photoanode
  • ZnO/ZnS-GdS

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