Stable core/shell CdTe/Mn-CdS quantum dots sensitized three-dimensional, macroporous ZnO nanosheet photoelectrode and their photoelectrochemical properties

Weili Li; Pengtao Sheng; Hongyan Feng; Xuehua Yin; Xuewei Zhu; Xu Yang; Qingyun Cai

doi:10.1021/am502151m

Stable core/shell CdTe/Mn-CdS quantum dots sensitized three-dimensional, macroporous ZnO nanosheet photoelectrode and their photoelectrochemical properties

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2014 Aug 13;6(15):12353-62. doi: 10.1021/am502151m. Epub 2014 Jul 17.

Authors

Weili Li¹, Pengtao Sheng, Hongyan Feng, Xuehua Yin, Xuewei Zhu, Xu Yang, Qingyun Cai

Affiliation

¹ State Key Lab of Chemo/Biosensing & Chemometrics, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Hunan University , Changsha 410082, China.

PMID: 25010851
DOI: 10.1021/am502151m

Abstract

A novel photoelectrode based on ZnS/CdTe/Mn-CdS/ZnS-sensitized three-dimensional macroporous ZnO nanosheet (NS) has been prepared by electrodeposition and successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The photoelectrode performances were significantly improved through the coupling of the core/shell CdTe/Mn-CdS quantum dots (QDs) with ZnO NS, and the introduction of the ZnS layer as a potential barrier. The photocurrent density systematically increases from ZnO NS (0.45 mA/cm(2)), CdTe/Mn-CdS/ZnO NS (4.98 mA/cm(2)), to ZnS/CdTe/Mn-CdS/ZnS/ZnO (6.23 mA/cm(2)) under the irradiation of AM 1.5G simulated sunlight. More important, the ZnS/CdTe/Mn-CdS/ZnS-sensitized ZnO NS photoelectrode provides a remarkable photoelectrochemical cell efficiency of 4.20% at -0.39 V vs Ag/AgCl.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't