Cu_2O decorated α-Fe_2O_3/SnS_2 core/shell heterostructured nanoarray photoanodes for water splitting

摘要

Rational component control and architectural design benefit to charge transport/separation and light absorption of photoelectrochemical (PEC) photoanodes. Here, alpha-Fe2O3/SnS2 nanorod/nanosheet core/shell heterostructure nanoarrays were fabricated through two steps including the synthesis of alpha-Fe2O3 nanorod arrays and the subsequent loading of SnS2 nanosheets on the alpha-Fe2O3 nanorods via a hydrothermal mute. The formed hierarchical nanorod/nanosheet core/shell nanostructure makes SnS2 nanosheets have good adhesion to the alpha-Fe2O3 nanorod array substrate with strong interfacial contact. The optimized alpha-Fe2O3/SnS2 photoanode exhibited improved PEC performance than the pristine alpha-Fe2O3 nanorod photoanode due to the accelerated charge separation and increased active sites. Moreover, the decoration of Cu2O nanoparticles further improves the water splitting performance and incident photon to current efficiency. This work delivers a rational strategy to prepare nanostructures with remarkable photoelectrochemical performance.