Two-dimensional functionalized hexagonal boron nitride for quantum dot photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation. Issue 39 (5th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abdelkarim, Omar; Kaur, Jasneet; Liu, Jiabin; Navarro-Pardo, Fabiola; Zarrin, Hadis; Yurtsever, Aycan; Bassioni, Ghada; Wang, Zhiming M.; Selopal, Gurpreet Singh; Rosei, Federico
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 8:Issue 39(2020)
• Page Start: 20698
• Page End: 20713
• Publication Date: 2020-10-05
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/d0ta05260d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : This work highlights the effect of 2D F-h-BN nanoflakes on the carrier recombination and performance of a photoelectrochemical system. Abstract : We report the design and fabrication of a heterojunction photoanode consisting of two-dimensional (2D) functionalized hexagonal boron nitride (F-h-BN) nanoflakes, introduced at the interface between SnO2 and quantum dots (QDs) ( e.g. CdS and CdS–CdSe), used as a photoanode in a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) for hydrogen (H2 ) generation. We highlight the effect of 2D F-h-BN nanoflakes on the carrier recombination and performance of the PEC system. In addition, the tailoring of SnO2 film thickness and incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were investigated for their effect on carrier dynamics and overall device performance. Our results show that a PEC device based on SnO2 /F-h-BN/CdS QDs exhibits a 60% improvement in the saturated photocurrent density (at 1.0 V vs. RHE) compared to the control device, due to improved electron injection and reduced carrier recombination at the metal oxide/QDs/electrolyte interface. The highest saturated photocurrent density value reached 6.35 mA cm −2 (at 1.0 V vs. RHE), after thickness optimization of the SnO2 film, incorporation (0.015 wt%) of MWCNTs, and cascade CdS–CdSe QDs. In addition, the PEC system maintains 98% of the initial value of photocurrent density after four hours of continuous one sun illumination (AM 1.5G, 100 mW cm −2 ). Our results offer a simple yet cost-effective and efficient strategy to enhance the performance of QD based PEC H2 generation and potentially other optoelectronic devices.