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Seed layer-assisted growth of branched Bi2S3 nanostructure on α-Fe2O3 thin film for improved photoelectrochemical performance

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Abstract

Incorporating a narrow bandgap semiconductor to α-Fe2O3 with matched energy positions is a promising route for improving the light-harvesting ability and charge transporting efficiency for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Herein, the preparation of heterojunction with uniform Bi2S3 nanobranches grown on the α-Fe2O3 nanorod film was reported through a seed layer-assisted growth mechanism. By controlling successive numbers of Bi2S3 seed layers before the subsequent Bi2S3 solvothermal reaction, rod-like Bi2S3 nanobranches were well assembled on α-Fe2O3 nanorod film. PEC investigation results revealed that the as-prepared α-Fe2O3/Bi2S3 heterojunction exhibited the highest photocurrent density of 11.55 mA/cm2 at 0.9 V vs. RHE, which was 14.43 and 5.2 times higher than that of pristine α-Fe2O3 and α-Fe2O3/Bi2S3 samples prepared without a Bi2S3 seed layer, respectively. The dramatic enhanced PEC performance was attributed to improved light-harvesting efficiency and more efficient photogenerated electron–hole separation in the composite. These results demonstrated that the assembly of branched Bi2S3 nanostructures on α-Fe2O3 films should be a promising photoanode for PEC applications.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51772255), the Program of Huxiang Young Talents (2018RS3099), and the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (2019JJ50097).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hunan Key Laboratory for Micro-Nano Energy Materials and Devices, School of Physics and Optoelectronics, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, 411105, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

    Jie Xiang, Rong Mo, Yu Liu, Meisong Yin & Hongxing Li

  2. Hunan First Normal University, No.1015, Fenglin Road (the 3rd), Yuelu District, Changsha, 410205, Hunan, People’s Republic of China

    Xianglin Li

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  1. Jie Xiang
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Xiang, J., Li, X., Mo, R. et al. Seed layer-assisted growth of branched Bi2S3 nanostructure on α-Fe2O3 thin film for improved photoelectrochemical performance. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 32, 13040–13050 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-05700-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-05700-4

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