Issue 37, 2015

CdSe quantum dots/molecular cobalt catalyst co-grafted open porous NiO film as a photocathode for visible light driven H2 evolution from neutral water

Abstract

An active noble-metal-free photocathode was fabricated by co-grafting water-soluble thioglycolic acid-stabilized CdSe quantum dots and a molecular cobaloxime catalyst (CoP) through chemical linkage on a p-type open porous NiO film. This photocathode was used as a working electrode in a three-electrode cell, which displayed a photocurrent density up to 110 µA cm−2 at an applied potential of 0 V vs. NHE in 0.1 M Na2SO4 solution at pH 6.8 upon visible light illumination. The comparative studies showed that the open porous NiO/CdSe electrode did display a higher photocurrent density than that exhibited by an analogous planar NiO/CdSe electrode made by doctor-blading a NiO paste. Long-time photoelectrolysis experiments revealed that about 83% of the photocurrent density remained after 3.5 h illumination at −0.2 V vs. NHE. The open porous NiO/CdSe/CoP photocathode showed a considerably better current density and photocatalytic stability compared to the so-far reported dye- or QD-sensitized NiO cathodes with a cobaloxime catalyst chemically attached or physically adsorbed on the electrode surface under similar conditions.

Graphical abstract: CdSe quantum dots/molecular cobalt catalyst co-grafted open porous NiO film as a photocathode for visible light driven H2 evolution from neutral water

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
10 Aug 2015
Accepted
20 Aug 2015
First published
20 Aug 2015

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 18852-18859

Author version available

CdSe quantum dots/molecular cobalt catalyst co-grafted open porous NiO film as a photocathode for visible light driven H2 evolution from neutral water

P. Meng, M. Wang, Y. Yang, S. Zhang and L. Sun, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 18852 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA06255A

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