Efficient TiO2/AgInS2/ZnS Nanoarchitecture Photoelectrode for the Photoelectrochemical Cathodic Protection of Copper in NaCl Solution. Issue 14 (5th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Guiying; Sun, Mengmeng; Chen, Zhuoyuan; Jiang, Xuhong; Jing, Jiangping
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Electrochemical Society. Volume 167:Issue 14(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-05
• Subjects: TiO2/AgInS2/ZnS nanoheterojunction -- photoelectrochemical cathodic protection -- pure copper -- NaCl solution; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; 541.3705
• DOI: 10.1149/1945-7111/abc594
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4651

Abstract

Abstract : An environmentally friendly AgInS2 /ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) co-sensitized TiO2 ultrafine branched nanolawn photoelectrode was constructed by depositing AgInS2 sensitizer and ZnS passivator on TiO2 ultrafine nanostructure. This architecture significantly improved the photoelectrochemical conversion efficiency and photoelectrochemical cathodic protection performance for pure copper with a more negative self-corrosion potential under simulated sunlight illumination and in NaCl solution containing no additional hole scavengers. Compared with single AgInS2 NPs sensitized TiO2, the design of ZnS passivation layer on TiO2 /AgInS2 significantly improves the charge generation and separation efficiency, and promotes the consumption of the photogenerated holes. The three-dimensional TiO2 with porous ultrafine nanobranched structure possesses high-speed electron transmission pathways and facilitates the rapid collection and migration of the photogenerated electrons. Since the conduction band potentials of AgInS2 and ZnS are more negative, the photogenerated electrons generated by TiO2 /AgInS2 /ZnS will be maintained at a more negative quasi-Fermi level. This ensures that the photogenerated electrons can be transferred to pure copper. The present work provides new ideas for designing nanoheterojunction materials for the protection of pure copper and other metallic materials with more negative self-corrosion potentials exposed in marine environment under simulated sunlight illumination.