CdS nanocrystallites sensitized ZnO nanorods with plasmon enhanced photoelectrochemical performance

A sandwiched structure of CdS/Ag/ZnO nanorod photoanode exhibits greatly enhanced photoelectrochemical activity for solar hydrogen generation, due to synergistic effect of CdS nanocrystallites and plasmonic Ag nanoparticles for the enhanced optical absorption and the promoted charge carrier separation.     

CdS nanocrystallites sensitized ZnO nanorods with plasmon enhanced photoelectrochemical performance

A novel architecture of CdS/ZnO nanorods with plasmonic silver (Ag) nanoparticles deposited at the interface of ZnO nanorods and CdS nanocrystallites, was designed as a photoanode for solar hydrogen generation, with photocurrent density achieving 4.7 mA/cm² at 1.6 V (vs. RHE), which is 8 and 1.7 times as high as those of pure ZnO and CdS/ZnO nanorod films, respectively. Additionally, with optical absorption onset extended to ～660 nm, CdS/Ag/ZnO nanorod film exhibits significantly increased incident photo-to-current efficiency (IPCE) in the whole optical absorption region, reaching 23.1% and 9.8% at 400 nm and 500 nm, respectively. The PEC enhancement can be attributed to the one-dimensional ZnO nanorod structure maintained for superior charge transfer, and the extended visible-light absorption of CdS nanocrystallites. Moreover, the incorporated plasmonic Ag nanoparticles could further promote the interfacial charge carrier transfer process and enhance the optical absorption ability, due to its excellent plasmon resonance effect.     

Electrodeposition of CdS onto BiVO4 films with high photoelectrochemical performance

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - In this study, CdS/BiVO4 heterojunction was successfully synthesized on the FTO-coated glass substrate through electrodeposition annealing followed by the...     

CdS nanoparticles sensitized large-scale patterned ZnO nanowire arrays for enhanced solar water splitting

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - CdS nanoparticle-sensitized patterned ZnO nanowire arrays (NWAs) were designed and synthesized through two-beam laser interference lithography (2BLIL),...     

Electrochemical synthesis of CdS/ZnO nanotube arrays with excellent photoelectrochemical properties

A facile electrochemical method was developed to synthesize CdS/ZnO nanotube arrays. Implemented as the photoanode in a photoelectrochemical cell, the CdS/ZnO nanotube arrays exhibited a photocurrent as high as 10.64 mA cm(-2).     

Carbon nitride polymer sensitized TiO2 nanotube arrays with enhanced visible light photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performance

Novel carbon nitride polymer sensitized TiO(2) nanotube arrays with high photocatalytic activity and photoelectrochemical response under visible light irradiation are prepared by electrodeposition.     

In situ Sn-doped WO3 films with enhanced photoelectrochemical performance for reducing CO2 into formic acid

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - We report exploiting effective Sn incorporation to enhance the photoelectrochemical activity of WO3 plate films, applied as photoanodes for...     

Thin films composed of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, gold nanoparticles and myoglobin for humidity detection at room temperature.

Optically transparent and electrically conductive nanocomposite thin films consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and myoglobin molecules that glue GNPs and MWCNTs together are fabricated for the first time on glass substrates from aqueous solution. The nanocomposite thin film is capable of varying its resistance, impedance or optical transmittance at room temperature in response to changes in ambient humidity. The conductometric sensitivity to relative humidity (RH) of the nanocomposite thin film is compared with those of the pure and Mb-functionalized MWCNT layers. The pure MWCNT layer shows a small increase in its resistance with increasing RH due to the effect of p-type semiconducting nanotubes present in the film. In contrast, a four times higher sensitivity to RH is observed for both the nanocomposite and Mb-functionalized MWCNT thin films. The sensitivity enhancement is attributable to swelling of the thin films induced by water absorption in the presence of Mb molecules, which increases the inter-nanotube spacing and thereby causes a further increase of the film resistance. A humidity change as low as DeltaRH=0.3 % has been readily detected by conductometry using the nanocomposite thin film.     

Acetylcholine esterase-labeled CdS nanoparticles on electrodes: photoelectrochemical sensing of the enzyme inhibitors

The photocurrents generated by a monolayer consisting of a CdS nanoparticles/acetylcholine esterase hybrid system associated with an electrode are controlled by the enzyme inhibitors.     

Efficient charge transfer and separation of TiO2@NiCo-LDH core-shell nanowire arrays for enhanced photoelectrochemical water-splitting

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Efficient charge transfer and separation play a significant role in determining the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting performance of...     

Thin films of Ag nanoparticles prepared from the reduction of AgI nanoparticles in self-assembled films

A novel method for the preparation of thin films of Ag nanoparticles is reported. Using mercaptoacetic acid as the stabilizing agent, AgI nanoparticles were prepared in aqueous solution. And based on electrostatic interactions, the thiol-passivated AgI nanoparticles were assembled in a self-assembled film by alternative deposition with a cationic polyelectrolyte. Then the AgI nanoparticles in the composite film were reduced by NaBH(4), which resulted in the formation of a thin film of Ag nanoparticles. UV-visible spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data confirmed the transformation from AgI to Ag. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the formed Ag nanoparticles distributed on the film homogeneously. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) measurement indicated that the prepared thin films could be used as effective SERS substrates. The reduction process was also carried out by UV light at selective surface regions, which resulted in the formation of patterned nanoparticle arrays.     

Polyethylene glycol-assisted growth of Ni3S4 closely packed nanosheets on Ni-foam for enhanced supercapacitor device

Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry - Rich redox peaks, high surface area, good surface wettability, fast ion passage channels, high rate capability and excellent stability are some of the...     

Room temperature synthesis of CdS nanoparticle-decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays by electrodeposition with improved visible-light photoelectrochemical properties

Controllable CdS nanoparticles (NPs) decorated on TiO₂ nanotube arrays (NTAs) were prepared via electrodeposition in DMSO solution at room temperature, aiming to improve the photoelectrochemical properties of TiO₂ NTA electrode in visible-light region. By tuning the concentrations of sulfur and Cd^2 + as well as the deposition time, CdS NPs with different sizes can be controllably synthesized at room temperature. Excellent photocurrent response and incident photo to current conversion efficiency were achieved with smaller CdS NPs with optimal reactant concentrations and deposition time, which can be attributed to highly efficient charge separation and high dispersion of CdS NPs on both inner and outer surfaces of TiO₂ nanotubes.     

Uniform arrays of gold nanoparticles with different surface roughness for surface enhanced Raman scattering

Uniform arrays of coarse and smooth gold nanoparticles with diameter about 130 nm were successfully synthesized through seed-mediated growth method, separately. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) have been used to study the formation and structure of the nanocomposites. The high enhancement factor for surface-enhanced Raman scattering of coarse and smooth gold nanoparticles were estimated to be about 3.1 × 10⁶ and 2.0 × 10⁶, respectively. It is evident that the coarse gold nanostructures has higher influence factor than the smooth gold nanostructures. Therefore, these unique properties of the coarse Au nanoparticles appear to be very promising for applications as high-performance SERS substrates.     

Preparation and enhanced visible light photoelectrochemical activity of g-C3N4/ZnO nanotube arrays

Graphite-like carbon nitride particles were deposited onto ZnO nanotube arrays by thermal polycondenzation and the photoelectrochemical energy conversion property of the g-C₃N₄/ZnO photocathode was investigated. The photocurrent generated by the g-C₃N₄/ZnO composite photocathode is nearly five times as that of g-C₃N₄ and ten times as that of ZnO under visible light irradiation at applied potential of +0.40 V vs. Ag/AgCl electrode. The incident photon to electron conversion efficiency is also greatly enhanced after the modification of g-C₃N₄ nanoparticles onto the ZnO nanotube arrays. In addition, the g-C₃N₄/ZnO electrode exhibits excellent long-term stability. The matching conduction bands and valence bands of g-C₃N₄ and ZnO greatly enhanced the separation and transfer of the photogenerated electrons and holes in the composite, thus the photoelectrochemical performance of the g-C₃N₄/ZnO electrode is improved.     

The influence of DMSO on the formation and photoelectrochemical properties of CdS thin films by electrodeposition method

The homodispersed CdS nanoparticles were prepared on Sn-doped indium oxide substrates (ITO) to form smooth and uniform CdS thin films by electrodeposition method from a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution containing cadmium chloride and sulfur. The structure and morphologies of samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The results indicate that DMSO played an important role in formation of CdS nanofilms by affecting the nucleation and growth of the CdS nanoparticles. So, a DMSO-assisted growth process was proposed as a plausible mechanism for the formation of smooth and uniform CdS nanofilms. According to the photoelectrochemical test, the CdS thin film prepared in 30 % DMSO + 70 % H₂O system exhibited maximum photocurrent and open circuit potentials. This is because the deposited CdS nanoparticles had better dispersity on ITO, which facilitated the propagation and kinetic separation of photogenerated charges.     

高效的CdS/Ti-Fe2O3异质结光阳极:研究Z型电荷迁移机制增强光电化学水氧化活性

近年来以Z型机制为转移的光催化体系成微光电化学分解水领域的研究热点.相比较传统的异质结,Z型异质结能够保留具有高氧化能力与高还原能力的位点,从而提高光电化学效率.其中,证明电荷的Z型迁移机制成为研究人员努力的方向,比较有效的证明方法包括自由基捕获、XPS分析和检测还原位点等.对于Z型异质结,界面电场处电荷的迁移行为是至...