1 research outputs found
Synthesis of CuInS<sub>2</sub> Quantum Dots/In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/ZnO Nanowire Arrays with High Photoelectrochemical Activity
Decoration
of CuInS<sub>2</sub> (CIS) quantum dots (QDs) on ZnO
nanowires (NWs) with an interlayer of In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> as
photoelectrode has been successfully fabricated on FTO via the simple
solution routes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) application. Scanning
electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction
are utilized to systematically analyze the morphology and structure
of the CIS QD/In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/ZnO NWs heterostructure.
The composition of this multilayer heterostructure and the removal
of QD ligands by a thermal process are confirmed by X-ray photoelectron
spectra. In comparison with CIS QDs/ZnO NWs, the CIS QD/In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/ZnO heterostructural photoelectrode displays an efficient
charge separation and carrier transport path for photocurrent up to
2.4 mA·cm<sup>–2</sup> that is competitive with other
Cd- and Pb-free QD-based materials. In addition, Mott–Schottky
analysis demonstrates the negative shift of the flat band in the CIS
QD/In<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/ZnO, which benefits the early onset
potential. Significantly, this hierarchical photoelectrode shows the
improvement the absorption and conversion of solar light in the visible
region obtained using a pristine ZnO structure. Our research paves
the way for exploring lead-free and lead-free sulfide materials in
the new category of solar applications