Xing Zhang,Hao Chen,Wei Zhang,Lina Zhang,Xinyu Liu,Jinwen Ma,Shichong Xu,Haibo Li
Exploring and fabricating a suitable photoanode with high catalytic activity is critical for enhancing photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. Herein, a novel 3D hierarchical Fe2O3/SnO2 photoanode was fabricated by a hydrothermal route, combining with an annealing process. The morphology, crystal structure were studied by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photon spectroscopy, and x-ray diffraction, respectively. The results reveal the successful preparation of Fe2O3 nanothorns on the surface of SnO2 nanosheets. The as-fabricated 3D Fe2O3/SnO2 photoanode yields obviously promoted PEC performance with a photocurrent density of approximate 5.85 mA cm−2, measured in a mixture of Na2S (0.25 M) and Na2SO3 (0.35 M) aqueous solution at 1.23 V (versus reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE). This value of photocurrent is about 53 times higher than that of the bare SnO2 photoanode. The obvious improved PEC properties can be attributed to the 3D Fe2O3/SnO2 heterostructures that offer outstanding light harvesting ability as well as improved charge transport and separation. These results suggest that exploring a suitable 3D hierarchical photoanode is an effective approach to boost PEC performance.
SnO 2 nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method and applied to photo-electrodes of quantum dots-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs). After sensitizing SnO 2 films via CdS quantum dots , CdSe quantum dots was decorated on the surface of CdS/SnO 2 photo-electrodes to further improve the power conversion efficiency. CdS and CdSe quantum dots were deposited by successive ionic layer absorption and reaction method (SILAR) and chemical bath deposition method (CBD) respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to identify the surface profile and crystal structure of SnO 2 photo-electrodes before and after deposited quantum dots. After CdSe co-sensitized process, an overall power conversion efficiency of 1.78% was obtained in CdSe/CdS/SnO 2 QDSSC, which showed 66.4% improvement than that of CdS/SnO 2 QDSSC.