Synthesis of metal sulfide sensitized zinc oxide-based core/shell/shell nanorods and their photoelectrochemical properties

This paper demonstrates a versatile, facile and low-cost precipitate transformation method to synthesize ZnO/ZnS/MxS (metal sulfide) core/shell/shell (CSS) nanorods (NRs), including ZnO/ZnS/Ag2S, ZnO/ZnS/CuS, ZnO/ZnS/Cu2S, ZnO/ZnS/CdS and ZnO/ZnS/Bi2S3. The sufficient differences between the solubil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of power sources 2014-12, Vol.268, p.388-396
Main Authors: Han, Jianhua, Liu, Zhifeng, Yadian, Boluo, Huang, Yizhong, Guo, Keying, Liu, Zhichao, Wang, Bo, Li, Yajun, Cui, Ting
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative fuels. Production and utilization
Applied sciences
Chemistry
Copper sulfides
Core/shell/shell
Electrochemistry
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Fuels
General and physical chemistry
Hydrogen
Hydrogen generation
Metal sulfide
Nanorods
Nanostructure
Photoelectrochemical
Photoelectrochemistry. Electrochemiluminescence
Shells
Sulfides
Zinc
Zinc oxide
Zinc sulfides
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Summary:This paper demonstrates a versatile, facile and low-cost precipitate transformation method to synthesize ZnO/ZnS/MxS (metal sulfide) core/shell/shell (CSS) nanorods (NRs), including ZnO/ZnS/Ag2S, ZnO/ZnS/CuS, ZnO/ZnS/Cu2S, ZnO/ZnS/CdS and ZnO/ZnS/Bi2S3. The sufficient differences between the solubility product constants of ZnO, ZnS and MxS allow ZnO NRs to be converted to ZnO/ZnS and ZnO/ZnS/MxS nanostructures via an intermediary conversion route based on the ion-by-ion growth mechanism. The photocurrent density and efficiency for hydrogen generation of the ZnO/ZnS/Ag2S CSS nanostructure are measured to be up to 15.28 mA cm−2 and 15.92%, respectively, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest value ever reported for ZnO-based nanostructures. It is believed that these enhanced performances are attributed to the improved absorption efficiency and desirable gradient energy gap structure. In comparison with some other similar CSS NRs (i.e. ZnO/ZnS/CuS, ZnO/ZnS/Cu2S, ZnO/ZnS/CdS and ZnO/ZnS/Bi2S3) that are successfully prepared through the same method, ZnO/ZnS/Ag2S CSS NR is found to provide the best photoelectrochemical performance. •ZnO/ZnS/MxS nanorods were prepared by chemical conversion based on ion-exchange.•High photocurrent was obtained due to the absorption spectra and band structure.•Controlling of shell thickness by adjusting the reaction time.
ISSN:0378-7753
1873-2755
DOI:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.06.060