Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-b6zl4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-09T22:35:36.024Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

PbO-sensitized ZnO nanorod arrays for enhanced visible-light-driven photoelectrochemical performance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 May 2016

Jinwen Shi ,
Penghui Guo ,
Ya Liu ,
Jinzhan Su  and
Liejin Guo
Jinwen Shi*
Affiliation:
International Research Center for Renewable Energy (IRCRE), State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering (MFPE), Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi, China
Penghui Guo*
Affiliation:
International Research Center for Renewable Energy (IRCRE), State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering (MFPE), Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi, China
Ya Liu
Affiliation:
International Research Center for Renewable Energy (IRCRE), State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering (MFPE), Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi, China
Jinzhan Su
Affiliation:
International Research Center for Renewable Energy (IRCRE), State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering (MFPE), Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi, China
Liejin Guo
Affiliation:
International Research Center for Renewable Energy (IRCRE), State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering (MFPE), Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), Xi'an 710049, Shaanxi, China
*
a) Address all correspondence to these authors. e-mail: [email protected]
b) e-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

In semiconductor system for solar-energy utilization by photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, the effective absorption of visible light and the efficient separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers are still of key importance. In this manuscript, composite photoanodes of PbO sensitized ZnO nanorod arrays were prepared by a two-step hydrothermal process and used as anodes for PEC test under visible-light irradiation. The photocurrent achieved the highest value of 94 μA cm−2 at 0.8 V (versus Ag/AgCl electrode) when the amount of Pb source was optimized to form only a thin layer (a few nanometers) of PbO nanoparticles on the surfaces of ZnO nanorods. Such a nanostructure enabled the visible-light absorption, and also ensured the sufficient contact of PbO with ZnO to form junction with a type II band alignment and the sufficient contact with aqueous solution to form interfaces, thus facilitating the excitation, separation, and transfer of charge carriers to generate photocurrent and finally enhancing the PEC activity.

Keywords

Pbnanostructurephotochemical
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 31 , Issue 11: Focus Issue: Advanced Materials and Structures for Solar Fuels , 14 June 2016 , pp. 1622 - 1630
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Tian, Z.R., Voigt, J.A., Liu, J., McKenzie, B., McDermott, M.J., Rodriguez, M.A., Konishi, H., and Xu, H.F.: Complex and oriented ZnO nanostructures. Nat. Mater. 2, 821 (2003).Google Scholar
Yang, J.L., An, S.J., Park, W.I., Yi, G.C., and Choi, W.: Photocatalysis using ZnO thin films and nanoneedles grown by metal–organic chemical vapor deposition. Adv. Mater. 16, 1661 (2004).Google Scholar
Li, Z.G., Duan, G.T., Liu, G.Q., Dai, Z.F., Hu, J.L., Cai, W.P., and Li, Y.: Hierarchical ZnO films with microplate/nanohole structures induced by precursor concentration and colloidal templates, their superhydrophobicity, and enhanced photocatalytic performance. J. Mater. Res. 29, 115 (2013).Google Scholar
Jang, Y.J., Jang, J.W., Lee, J., Kim, J.H., Kumagai, H., Lee, J., Minegishi, T., Kubota, J., Domen, K., and Lee, J.S.: Selective co production by Au coupled ZnTe/ZnO in the photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction system. Energy Environ. Sci. 8, 3597 (2015).Google Scholar
Zou, Z.G., Ye, J.H., Sayama, K., and Arakawa, H.: Direct splitting of water under visible light irradiation with an oxide semiconductor photocatalyst. Nature 414, 625 (2001).Google Scholar
Khan, S.U.M., Al-Shahry, M., and Ingler, W.B. Jr.: Efficient photochemical water splitting by a chemically modified n-TiO2 . Science 297, 2243 (2002).Google Scholar
Shi, J.W., Ye, J.H., Zhou, Z.H., Li, M.T., and Guo, L.J.: Hydrothermal synthesis of Na0.5La0.5TiO3–LaCrO3 solid-solution single-crystal nanocubes for visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 evolution. Chem.–Eur. J. 17, 7858 (2011).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sunahara, K., Furube, A., Katoh, R., Mori, S., Griffith, M.J., Wallace, G.G., Wagner, P., Officer, D.L., and Mozer, A.J.: Coexistence of femtosecond- and nonelectron-injecting dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells: Inhomogeniety limits the efficiency. J. Phys. Chem. C 115, 22084 (2011).Google Scholar
Ziółek, M., Martín, C., Cohen, B., Garcia, H., and Douhal, A.: Virtues and vices of an organic dye and Ti-doped MCM-41 based dye-sensitized solar cells. J. Phys. Chem. C 115, 23642 (2011).Google Scholar
Senevirathna, M.K.I., Pitigala, P.K.D.D.P., and Tennakone, K.: Water photoreduction with Cu2O quantum dots on TiO2 nano-particles. J. Photochem. Photobiol., A 171, 257 (2005).Google Scholar
Lee, Y.L., Chi, C.F., and Liau, S.Y.: CdS/CdSe co-sensitized TiO2 photoelectrode for efficient hydrogen generation in a photoelectrochemical cell. Chem. Mater. 22, 922 (2009).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hagfeldt, A., Boschloo, G., Sun, L.C., Kloo, L., and Pettersson, H.: Dye-sensitized solar cells. Chem. Rev. 110, 6595 (2010).Google Scholar
Banerjee, S., Mohapatra, S.K., Das, P.P., and Misra, M.: Synthesis of coupled semiconductor by filling 1D TiO2 nanotubes with CdS. Chem. Mater. 20, 6784 (2008).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sung, T.K., Kang, J.H., Jang, D.M., Myung, Y., Jung, G.B., Kim, H.S., Jung, C.S., Cho, Y.J., Park, J., and Lee, C.L.: CdSSe layer-sensitized TiO2 nanowire arrays as efficient photoelectrodes. J. Mater. Chem. 21, 4553 (2011).Google Scholar
Leschkies, K.S., Divakar, R., Basu, J., Enache-Pommer, E., Boercker, J.E., Carter, C.B., Kortshagen, U.R., Norris, D.J., and Aydil, E.S.: Photosensitization of ZnO nanowires with CdSe quantum dots for photovoltaic devices. Nano Lett. 7, 1793 (2007).Google Scholar
Cao, X.B., Chen, P., and Guo, Y.: Decoration of textured ZnO nanowires array with CdTe quantum dots: Enhanced light-trapping effect and photogenerated charge separation. J. Phys. Chem. C 112, 20560 (2008).Google Scholar
Wang, M., Jiang, J.G., Liu, G.J., Shi, J.W., and Guo, L.J.: Controllable synthesis of double layered tubular CdSe/ZnO arrays and their photoelectrochemical performance for hydrogen production. Appl. Catal., B 138–139, 304 (2013).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chung, J., Myoung, J., Oh, J., and Lim, S.: Synthesis of a ZnS shell on the ZnO nanowire and its effect on the nanowire-based dye-sensitized solar cells. J. Phys. Chem. C 114, 21360 (2010).Google Scholar
Wang, X.N., Zhu, H.J., Xu, Y.M., Wang, H., Tao, Y., Hark, S., Xiao, X.D., and Li, Q.: Aligned ZnO/CdTe core-shell nanocable arrays on indium tin oxide: Synthesis and photoelectrochemical properties. ACS Nano 4, 3302 (2010).Google Scholar
Cho, I.S., Chen, Z.B., Forman, A.J., Kim, D.R., Rao, P.M., Jaramillo, T.F., and Zheng, X.L.: Branched TiO2 nanorods for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. Nano Lett. 11, 4978 (2011).CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vithal, M., Nachimuthu, P., Banu, T., and Jagannathan, R.: Optical and electrical properties of PbO–TiO2, PbO–TeO2, and PbO–CdO glass systems. J. Appl. Phys. 81, 7922 (1997).Google Scholar
Ekuma, E.C., Esabunor, E.V., and Osarolube, E.: Optoelectronic properties and band gap narrowing in chemically PbO doped TiO2 thin film. Optoelectron. Adv. Mater., Rapid Commun. 5, 960 (2011).Google Scholar
Iwaszuk, A. and Nolan, M.: Lead oxide-modified TiO2 photocatalyst: Tuning light absorption and charge carrier separation by lead oxidation state. Catal. Sci. Technol. 3, 2000 (2013).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bhachu, D.S., Sathasivam, S., Carmalt, C.J., and Parkin, I.P.: PbO-modified TiO2 thin films: A route to visible light photocatalysts. Langmuir 30, 624 (2013).Google Scholar
Guo, P.H., Jiang, J.G., Shen, S.H., and Guo, L.J.: ZnS/ZnO heterojunction as photoelectrode: Type II band alignment towards enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 38, 13097 (2013).Google Scholar
Hill, R.J.: Refinement of the structure of orthorhombic PbO (massicot) by rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction data. Acta Crystallogr., Sect. C: Cryst. Struct. Commun. 41, 1281 (1985).Google Scholar
Thomas, J.M. and Tricker, M.J.: Electronic structure of the oxides of lead. Part 2.-an XPS study of bulk rhombic PbO, tetragonal PbO, β-PbO2 and Pb3O4 . J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 2 71, 329 (1975).Google Scholar
Keezer, R.C., Bowman, D.L., and Becker, J.H.: Electrical and optical properties of lead oxide single crystals. J. Appl. Phys. 39, 2062 (1968).Google Scholar
Terpstra, H.J., de Groot, R.A., and Haas, C.: Electronic structure of the lead monoxides: Band-structure calculations and photoelectron spectra. Phys. Rev. B: Condens. Matter Mater. Phys. 52, 11690 (1995).Google Scholar
Djurišić, A.B., Leung, Y.H., Tam, K.H., Ding, L., Ge, W.K., Chen, H.Y., and Gwo, S.: Green, yellow, and orange defect emission from ZnO nanostructures: Influence of excitation wavelength. Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 103107 (2006).Google Scholar
Zhang, X.Y., Qin, J.Q., Xue, Y.N., Yu, P.F., Zhang, B., Wang, L.M., and Liu, R.P.: Effect of aspect ratio and surface defects on the photocatalytic activity of ZnO nanorods. Sci. Rep. 4, 4596 (2014).Google Scholar
Kudo, A., Omori, K., and Kato, H.: A novel aqueous process for preparation of crystal form-controlled and highly crystalline BiVO4 powder from layered vanadates at room temperature and its photocatalytic and photophysical properties. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 121, 11459 (1999).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shi, J.W., Ye, J.H., Li, Q.Y., Zhou, Z.H., Tong, H., Xi, G.C., and Guo, L.J.: Single-crystal nanosheet-based hierarchical AgSbO3 with exposed {001} facets: Topotactic synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Chem.–Eur. J. 18, 3157 (2012).Google Scholar
Yang, B. and Luca, V.: Enhanced long-wavelength transient photoresponsiveness of WO3 induced by tellurium doping. Chem. Commun. 37, 4454 (2008).Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Shi supplementary material

Shi supplementary material

Download Shi supplementary material(File)
File 234.2 KB