Enhancement of photoconversion efficiency and light harvesting ability of TiO2 nanotube-arrays with Cu2ZnSnS4

Al-Shihabi Al-Ani, Athil; Tokay, Begum; Zhu, Wen; Chen, George Z.

Abstract

We report an underpotential deposition (UPD) route of Cu2ZnSnS4/TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2-NTAs) in which the Kesterite (Cu2ZnSnS4) was employed as a sensitizer to enhance the photoconversion efficiency of the TiO2-NTAs. Cu2ZnSnS4 was simultaneously coated on TiO2-NTAs by depositing its constituent metals from the precursor ions via electrochemical atomic layer deposition (EC-ALD) and subsequent annealing. The detailed synthesis process, the surface morphology, crystalline structure, photoelectrochemical properties and hydrogen production rate of the as-prepared Cu2ZnSnS4/TiO2-NTAs were discussed. Thickened TiO2 nanotubes were observed, suggesting that the Cu2ZnSnS4 coating was about 5 ± 0.5 nm. The results showed that the light harvesting of TiO2-NTAs has an obvious improvement after sensitizing them with Cu2ZnSnS4. In comparison with pure TiO2-NTAs, a two-fold increment in photoconversion efficiency was achieved using the composite of Cu2ZnSnS4/TiO2-NTAs. The novel photoanode of CZTS/TiO2 NTAs achieved a maximum hydrogen generation rate of 49 ml h−1 cm−2.

Citation

Al-Shihabi Al-Ani, A., Tokay, B., Zhu, W., & Chen, G. Z. (2022). Enhancement of photoconversion efficiency and light harvesting ability of TiO2 nanotube-arrays with Cu2ZnSnS4. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 47(72), 31003-31013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.10.110

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 15, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 8, 2021
• Publication Date: Aug 22, 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 10, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 9, 2022
• Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
• Print ISSN: 0360-3199
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-3487
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 72
• Pages: 31003-31013
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.10.110
• Keywords: Energy Engineering and Power Technology; Condensed Matter Physics; Fuel Technology; Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6678115
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360319921041422?via%3Dihub#!