CdS-sensitized TiO2 nanocorals: hydrothermal synthesis, characterization, application

Abstract

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticle-sensitized titanium oxide nanocorals (TNC) were synthesized using a two-step deposition process. The TiO(2) nanocorals were grown on the conducting glass substrates (FTO) using A hydrothermal process and CdS nanoparticles were loaded on TNC using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The TiO(2), CdS and TiO(2)-CdS samples were characterized by optical absorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), FT-Raman, FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle. Further, their photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance was tested in NaOH, Na(2)S-NaOH-S and Na(2)S electrolytes, respectively. When CdS nanoparticles are coated on TNCs, the optical absorption is found to be enhanced and band edge is red-shifted towards visible region. The TiO(2)-CdS sample exhibits improved photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance with maximum short circuit current of (J(sc)) 1.04 mA cm(-2). After applying these TiO(2)-CdS electrodes in photovoltaic cells, the photocurrent was found to be enhanced by 2.7 and 32.5 times, as compared with those of bare CdS and TiO(2) nanocorals films electrodes respectively. Also, the power conversion efficiency of TiO(2)-CdS electrodes is 0.72%, which is enhanced by about 16 and 29 times for TiO(2), CdS samples.

Enhanced photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 nanorod arrays sensitized with CdS nanoplates

“…Moreover, the absorption edges display a slight red shift. This could result from increased particle size and broadened distribution of CdS NPLs [27][28][29]. As absorption of visible light is essential to photocatalytic activity, the sensitization of the NRAs may be expected to enhance photocatalytic activity.…”

Enhanced photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2nanorod arrays decorated with CdS nanoparticles

“…The first peak at 144 cm −1 as a characteristic of anatase is formed in the as-prepared TiO 2 NRAs. The peak at 613 cm −1 can be assigned to the Raman active modes of the rutile [41, 42]. One sees that the TiO 2 NRAs consist of a mixture of anatase and rutile nanocrystallites, which will be further verified by TEM.…”

From nanocorals to nanorods to nanoflowers nanoarchitecture for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells at relatively low film thickness: All Hydrothermal Process

“…This peculiar morphological feature is beneficial as it provides larger active surface area. Detailed growth mechanism is explained in our previous work343536. FESEM images of the TiO 2 nanorods (TNR) are shown in fig.…”

“…TiO 2 nanorcorals (TNC) were synthesized by controlled hydrothermal process3435. In a typical experiment, hydrothermal inorganic precursor solution was prepared by mixing 0.05 M TiCl 4 carefully with absolute ethanol in ice-cold bath forming yellow colored titanium chloroalkoxide [TiCl 2 (OEt) 2 ] solution.…”

“…In this article, we have studied effect of different TiO 2 morphology from nanocorals (TNC)3435, nanorods (TNR) to nanoflowers (TNF)36 thin films on FTO substrate that were prepared by facile hydrothermal route. Herein, TNF film was prepared from 0.001 M of 1:3-ethoxycarbonylethyl-1-methyl-imidazolium chloride [CMIM][HSO 4 ] RTIL mixed with Titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP):Hydrochloric Acid (HCl, 38%) (1:1 Volume) solution, and uniform, compressed and nanocrystalline TiO 2 nanoflowers were obtained.…”