Visible-Light-Driven Photoelectrochemical and Photocatalytic Performance of NaNbO3 /Ag2 S Core-Shell Heterostructures

Abstract

Herein, we report the fabrication of visible-light-active NaNbO3 /Ag2 S staggered-gap core-shell semiconductor heterostructures with excellent photoelectrochemical activity toward water splitting, and the degradation of a model pollutant (methylene blue) was also monitored. The heterostructures show a pronounced photocurrent density of approximately 2.44 mA cm(-2) at 0.9 V versus Ag/AgCl in 0.5 m Na2 SO4 and exhibit a positive shift in onset potential by approximately 1.1 V. The high photoactivity is attributed to the efficient photoinduced interfacial charge transfer (IFCT). The core-shell design alleviates the challenges associated with the electron-hole paths across semiconductor junctions and at the electrolyte-semiconductor interface. These properties demonstrate that NaNbO3 /Ag2 S core-shell heterostructures show promising visible-light photoactivity and are also efficient, stable, and recyclable photocatalysts.

Keywords: electrochemistry; energy conversion; nanostructures; semiconductors; water splitting.