Cu2ZnSnS4-Ag2S nanoscale p-n heterostructures as sensitizers for photoelectrochemical water splitting
Yu, Xuelian (Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya)
Liu, Jingjing (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology)
Genç, Aziz (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Ibáñez, Maria (Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya)
Luo, Zhishan (Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya)
Shavel, Alexey (Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya)
Arbiol i Cobos, Jordi (Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia)
Zhang, Guangjin (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology)
Zhang, Yihe (Chinese Academy of Sciences. Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes)
Cabot, Andreu (Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats)

Date:	2015
Abstract:	A cation exchange-based route was used to produce CuZnSnS (CZTS)-AgS nanoparticles with controlled composition. We report a detailed study of the formation of such CZTS-AgS nanoheterostructures and of their photocatalytic properties. When compared to pure CZTS, the use of nanoscale p-n heterostructures as light absorbers for photocatalytic water splitting provides superior photocurrents. We associate this experimental fact to a higher separation efficiency of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. We believe this and other type-II nanoheterostructures will open the door to the use of CZTS, with excellent light absorption properties and made of abundant and environmental friendly elements, to the field of photocatalysis.
Grants:	European Commission 284486 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad ENE2013-46624-C4-3-R Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2014/SGR-1638
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió sotmesa a revisió
Subject:	Absorption property ; Environmental-friendly ; Nano-heterostructures ; Photocatalytic property ; Photocatalytic water splitting ; Photoelectrochemical water splitting ; Photogenerated electrons ; Separation efficiency
Published in:	Langmuir, Vol. 31, issue 38 (Sep. 2015) , p. 10555-10561, ISSN 1520-5827

DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b02490

Preprint 24 p, 2.3 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles