Hybrid (Organic/Inorganic) Electrodes from Bacterially Precipitated CdS for PEC/Storage Applications

Abstract

Hybrid organic–inorganic compounds are receiving increasing attention for photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices due to their high electron transport efficiency and facile synthesis. Biosynthesis is a potentially low-cost and eco-friendly method to precipitate transition-metal-based semiconductor nanoparticles (NPs) in an organic matrix. In this work, we examine the structure and composition of bacterially precipitated (BAC) cadmium sulfide (CdS) NPs using electron microscopy, and we determine their PEC properties and the energy band structure by electrochemical measurements. In addition, by taking advantage of the organic matrix, which is residual from the biosynthesis process, we fabricate a prototype photocharged capacitor electrode by incorporating the bacterially precipitated CdS with a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) sheet. Our results show that the hydrophilic groups associated with the organic matrix make BAC CdS NPs a potentially useful component of PEC devices with applications for energy conversion and storage.

Synthetic Pattern Formation

“…Second, combinations of organic and inorganic components may show superior properties. 41 Moreover, living systems are usually much more efficient and environmentally friendly. In combination with pattern-generating circuits, we can obtain materials with patterned structures.…”

“…First, living systems are highly programmable and tunable, allowing the restructuring of materials in response to changes in environmental conditions. Second, combinations of organic and inorganic components may show superior properties . Moreover, living systems are usually much more efficient and environmentally friendly.…”

The synergistic effect of surface and bulk O vacancies in a WO3 photoanode to advance carrier separation and light harvesting for photoelectrochemical water splitting

“…Hence, much effort has been devoted to seeking appropriate semiconductors for replacing TiO 2 for PEC water splitting. To date, researchers have focused on visible light responsive semiconductor materials such as BiVO 4 , 11,12 Fe 2 O 3 , 13 WO 3 14 and CdS 15 to replace TiO 2 photoanodes, because the energy of visible light makes up almost 43% of solar radiation but ultraviolet light accounts for only 4%. 16 Among them, WO 3 with its virtues of stability in an acid environment and fine photosensitivity has been extensively researched.…”

General In Situ Photoactivation Route with IPCE over 80% toward CdS Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Applications

“…[ 9,10 ] Moreover, CdS has been widely used in various PEC cells with applications for energy conversion and storage. [ 11–13 ] Although its hole diffusion length is much shorter (<1 µm), [ 8 ] the photogenerated holes have no difficulty of reaching the surface when electrodes was illuminated from the CdS side of, considering the even specific absorption depth of CdS (<500 nm) below 520 nm in wavelength. [ 14 ] Nonetheless, most reported CdS photoanodes show efficiencies much lower than the theoretical value, even when single crystal form CdS was used in early studies.…”