Repository logo
 

Hyperbranched TiO2-CdS nano-heterostructures for highly efficient photoelectrochemical photoanodes.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Mezzetti, Alessandro 
Balandeh, Mehrdad 
Luo, Jingshan 
Bellani, Sebastiano 
Tacca, Alessandra 

Abstract

Quasi-1D-hyperbranched TiO2 nanostructures are grown via pulsed laser deposition and sensitized with thin layers of CdS to act as a highly efficient photoelectrochemical photoanode. The device properties are systematically investigated by optimizing the height of TiO2 scaffold structure and thickness of the CdS sensitizing layer, achieving photocurrent values up to 6.6 mA cm-2 and reaching saturation with applied biases as low as 0.35 VRHE. The high internal conversion efficiency of these devices is to be found in the efficient charge generation and injection of the thin CdS photoactive film and in the enhanced charge transport properties of the hyperbranched TiO2 scaffold. Hence, the proposed device represents a promising architecture for heterostructures capable of achieving high solar-to-hydrogen efficiency.

Description

Keywords

water-splitting, nanostructured, hyperbranched, photoelectrochemical, photoanode, TiO2, CdS

Journal Title

Nanotechnology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0957-4484
1361-6528

Volume Title

29

Publisher

IOP Publishing
Sponsorship
European Research Council (259619)