Scalable Core–Shell MoS_2/Sb_2Se_3 Nanorod Array Photocathodes for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

摘要

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen generation is a promising solar energyharvesting technique to address the concerns about the ongoing energy crisis.Antimony selenide (Sb_2Se3_) with van der Waals-bonded quasi-1D (Q1D) nanoribbons,for instance, (Sb_4Se_6)n, has attracted considerable interest as a lightabsorber with Earth-abundant elements, suitable bandgap, and a desired sunlightabsorption coefficient. By tuning its anisotropic growth behavior, it is possible toachieve Sb_2Se_3 films with nanostructured morphologies that can improve thelight absorption and photogenerated charge carrier separation, eventuallyboosting the PEC water-splitting performance. Herein, high-quality Sb_2Se_3 filmswith nanorod (NR) array surface morphologies are synthesized by a low-cost,high-yield, and scalable close-spaced sublimation technique. By sputtering anonprecious and scalable crystalline molybdenum sulfide (MoS_2) film as acocatalyst and a protective layer on Sb2Se3 NR arrays, the fabricated core–shellstructured MoS_2/Sb_2Se_3 NR PEC devices can achieve a photocurrent density ashigh as -10 mA cm~（-2） at 0 VRHE in a buffered near-neutral solution (pH 6.5)under a standard simulated air mass 1.5 solar illumination. The scalable manufacturingof nanostructured MoS2/Sb2Se3 NR array thin-film photocathodeelectrodes for efficient PEC water splitting to generate solar fuel is demonstrated.