Plasma Treatment: a Novel Approach to Improve the Photoelectroactivity of Sb₂S₃ Thin Films to Water Splitting

Abstract

The present study reports a novel and fast nitrogen plasma treatment approach to boost hydrogen evolution on antimony(III) sulphide (Sb2S3) thin films via light‐driven water splitting. The Sb2S3 films were synthesised by electrodepositing antimony followed by sulphurisation, and then using different treatment times under nitrogen plasma. The plasma treatment time did not result in significant changes in the microstructural and optical properties, compared to the non‐plasma films. However, the wettability drastically changed from superhydrophobic for the non‐plasma film to hydrophilic once treated. Photoelectrochemical analysis showed a substantial photocurrent density increase (24‐fold) for the film treated for 10 s in comparison with the non‐plasma film. Further characterisation by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed chemical and morphological modifications for the films treated, which explain the enhancement of photoelectroactivity and wettability.

Fabrication of Flower-Shaped Sb2S3/Fe2O3 Heterostructures for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance

“…We can assign these peaks to Sb 3+ in Sb 2 S 3 . The weak O 1s peak (in Figure b) in both Sb 2 S 3 and S–F-6 with binding energies of 530.2 and 530.7 eV, respectively, may be caused by the water molecules adsorbed on the film surface during the sample exposure to air . The Fe 2p high-resolution XPS spectra of both S–F-6 (Figure c) and α-Fe 2 O 3 (Figure S7b) show peaks of 724.5/711.2 eV and 724.3/710.7 eV, respectively, corresponding to Fe 2p 1/2 /Fe 2p 3/2 , which are typical values for Fe 3+ in α-Fe 2 O 3 .…”

Gamma-irradiated stibnite thin films set a remarkable benchmark performance for photoelectrochemical water splitting

“…14, all the samples exhibit a CA greater than 90°, suggesting low wettability and consequently resulting in a low Gibbs surface free energy. 71 The CA decreases from 145.2°to 110.8°w ith increasing gamma irradiation, which may affect the electrolyte absorption and the interaction between Sb 2 S 3 photoelectrodes and electrolytes. The optimal CA was noted for the sample irradiated with a dose of 15 kGy, signifying a higher surface wettability.…”