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Hydrogen evolution properties of Cr doped and (Cr, Er) co-doped ZnS nanoparticles

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Abstract

In this study, the influence of transition metal ion doping and rare earth ion co-doping on the structural, optical, and hydrogen (H2) production properties of nanocrystalline ZnS were estimated. A simple hydrothermal technique was utilized to prepare the ZnS, ZnS:Cr, and ZnS:(Cr,Er) nanoparticles (NPs). Comprehensive structural analysis confirming the effectual incorporation of Cr and Er in the place of Zn in ZnS matrix without disturbing the original structure. An-X-ray photoelectron narrow scans confirming the existence of zinc, sulfur, chromium, and erbium in the prepared sample as 2+, 2−, 3+, and 3+ chemical states, respectively. Surprisingly, the optical bandgap of ZnS was slightly enhanced after doping and co-doping. Anticipatedly, ZnS:(Cr,Er) system displayed highest H2 production than those of ZnS and ZnS:Cr samples beneath artificial solar illumination. The plausible causes behind the enhanced H2 evolution are discussed in detail.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation Korea funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Fusion Research (Grant Nos: NRF- 20201G1A1014959 and NRF-2022R1I1A1A01064248). This work was supported by the Technology development Program (S3038568) funded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS, Korea). Researchers supporting project number (RSP2023R348), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Funding

This work was funded by the Technology Development Program (S3038568) funded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS, Korea).

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Author notes

  1. B. Poornaprakash and Peddathimula Puneetha have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronic Engineering, Gangneung-Wonju National Univeristy, Gangneung, 25457, South Korea

    B. Poornaprakash & Y. L. Kim

  2. Department of Robotics and Intelligent Machine Engineering/College of Mechanical and IT Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, South Korea

    Peddathimula Puneetha & Dong-Yeon Lee

  3. Advanced Material Research Center, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi, 39177, South Korea

    M. Siva Pratap Reddy

  4. National Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates

    Sambasivam Sangaraju

  5. Department of Physics, Saveetha School of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, Chennai, 602 105, India

    P. Rosaiah

  6. Department of Physics & Astronomy, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Bandar Ali Al-Asbahi

Authors
  1. B. Poornaprakash
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  2. Peddathimula Puneetha
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  3. M. Siva Pratap Reddy
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  4. Sambasivam Sangaraju
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  5. P. Rosaiah
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  6. Bandar Ali Al-Asbahi
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  7. Dong-Yeon Lee
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  8. Y. L. Kim
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Contributions

BP and PP: Conceptualization, Methodology, Experimental, Investigation, Graphical Work, and Writing—original draft. MSPR and BAA-A: Methodology, Investigation, Experimental, Graphical Work, Writing—original draft, Resources. PR and SS: Formal Analysis. D-YL: Writing Review, Validation, Editing, and Resources. YLK: Investigation, Formal Analysis, Editing, Writing Review, and Supervision.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. L. Kim.

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Poornaprakash, B., Puneetha, P., Reddy, M.S.P. et al. Hydrogen evolution properties of Cr doped and (Cr, Er) co-doped ZnS nanoparticles. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 34, 1614 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-11023-3

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