Bandgap engineering of ternary sulfide nanocrystals by solution proton alloying for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution. (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Peng; Ngaw, Chee Keong; Yuan, Yupeng; Bassi, Prince Saurabh; Joachim Loo, Say Chye; Yang Tan, Timothy Thatt
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 26(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 577
• Page End: 585
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: Photocatalyst -- Ternary sulfide -- Bandgap engineering -- Proton alloying -- Hydrogen revolution; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2016.06.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Bandgap engineering is an important strategy for tailoring the optical and electronic properties of semiconductor nanocrystals. This work describes the first solution proton alloying process for tuning the bandgap energy of ternary sulfide nanocrystals at room temperature. The proposed strategy circumvents the use of toxic heavy metal ions, while maintaining the size and morphology of the nanocrystals, through a seamless tuning of the bandgap over a wide range. It was shown that proton alloying exhibited different effects on the bandgap energies of ternary sulfide nanocrystals and this could be explained by Density-Of-States (DOS) calculations. Using this approach, enhanced optoelectronic properties of ternary sulfide semiconductor nanocrystals were achieved and proton alloyed ZnIn2 S4 showed eight times higher photocatalytic H2 evolution rate than that of the untreated ones due to increased carrier density and decreased charge transfer resistance. Graphical abstract: Highlights: First report on proton alloying process for bandgap energy of ternary sulfide. Different effects on bandgap energy were exhibited by current strategy. Enhanced optoelectronic properties were achieved for proton alloyed nanocrystals.