NaNbO3/MoS2 and NaNbO3/BiVO4 core–shell
heterostructures show absorption range
extending to the visible region and high charge transfer rate at the
interface and lower charge recombination which result in overall enhanced
photocatalytic activity in the visible region. NaNbO3/MoS2 core–shell heterostructures show higher solar-to-hydrogen
conversion efficiency due to better alignment between core and shell
interface. The Rct and RIFCT values of NaNbO3/MoS2 core–shell (from EIS studies) are
significantly smaller than in NaNbO3/BiVO4 core–shell
heterostructures suggesting the charge separation in NaNbO3/MoS2 is more suitable and hence shows higher photocatalytic
activity toward photoelectrochemical water splitting and dye degradation.
The experimental results were well supported by photoluminescence
as well as time-resolved spectroscopy. Enhancement of cathodic current
in NaNbO3/MoS2 core–shell heterostructure
and from Mott–Schottky plots also indicates appearance of the
p–n junction formation between core and shell materials. The
p–n junction assists in the separation of photogenerated charge
carriers at the core–shell interface. Increasing the negative
shift of the flat band potential for the NaNbO3/MoS2 photoelectrode suggested higher charge carrier concentration
with reduced charge recombination in comparison with pristine MoS2, BiVO4, and NaNbO3/BiVO4 core–shell heterostructures. The enhanced performance makes
these heterostructures ideal candidates for photoelectrochemical hydrogen
evolution via water splitting.
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