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Enhanced photoelectronic performance of MoS2 nanosheets decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays via simultaneously promoting light absorption and charge separation

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Abstract

Both light absorption and charge separation are highly important to the photoelectronic performance of semiconductor-based electrodes. Herein, we describe the fabrication of TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTAs) decorated with dual-functional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets using a facile hydrothermal method. The obtained MoS2/TiO2 heterojunction shows a high photocurrent density of 0.76 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE (V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode), which is over five times higher than that of pristine TiO2 NTAs. The enhanced photoelectronic performance is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect between the extended light absorption and improved charge separation after the introduction of MoS2 nanosheet. This simple yet general strategy provides a unique platform to improve the catalytic activity of photoelectrode materials with a narrow band-gap.

Graphical abstract

Both light absorption and charge separation are simultaneously enhanced via the fabrication of MoS2 nanosheets covered the top of TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTAs) to form MoS2/TiO2 heterojunction. This simple yet general strategy provides a unique platform to improve the catalytic activity of photoelectrode materials with a narrow band-gap.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51902297 and 52002361), and the Fund of the Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Energy Materials Chemistry of Ministry of Education & Hubei Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials Science (CHCL20001).

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Author notes

  1. Xiaoqin Hu and Zhifu Hu authors have equally contributed to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, People’s Republic of China

    Xiaoqin Hu, Zhifu Hu, Jing Huang, Junwei Wan, Yang Wang, Zhen Li & Xueqin Liu

  2. Northwest of China Metallurgical Geology Bureau of Geological Prospecting Institute Jiuquan Testing Center, Jiuquan, 735009, China

    Peng Wu

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  1. Xiaoqin Hu
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Correspondence to Peng Wu, Jing Huang or Junwei Wan.

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Hu, X., Hu, Z., Wu, P. et al. Enhanced photoelectronic performance of MoS2 nanosheets decorated TiO2 nanotube arrays via simultaneously promoting light absorption and charge separation. J Appl Electrochem 53, 1259–1267 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-022-01842-3

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