Hydrophilic polypyrrole and g-C3N4 co-decorated ZnO nanorod arrays for stable and efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting. Issue 47 (15th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xie, Xiaoyu; Wang, Ru; Chen, Jinping; Ma, Yi; Li, Zhiyong; Cui, Qiannan; Shi, Zengliang; Xu, Chunxiang
• Is Part Of: Dalton transactions. Volume 51:Issue 47(2022)
• Page Start: 18109
• Page End: 18117
• Publication Date: 2022-11-15
• Subjects: Chemistry, Inorganic -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Physical and theoretical -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Inorganic -- Periodicals; 546.05
• DOI: 10.1039/d2dt03089f
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-9226

Abstract

Abstract : Hydrophilic polypyrrole and g-C3 N4 co-decorated ZnO nanorod arrays were synthesized for stable and efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting. Abstract : It is of practical significance to manufacture high-performance and durable semiconductor heterojunctions for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Herein, hydrophilic polypyrrole and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 ) co-decorated ZnO nanorod arrays were synthesized as a photoanode by facile spin-coating and plasma-treatment methods. On the one hand, g-C3 N4 nanosheets are modified on ZnO nanorod arrays to broaden the light-absorption range and suppress the recombination of photogenerated charges. On the other hand, the polypyrrole coating layer inhibits the dissolution and corrosion of ZnO nanorods and constructs a p–n heterojunction with ZnO to further promote the separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers. Furthermore, its hydrophilic surface provides a vast electrochemically active surface area for efficient charge/mass transfer. As a result, the as-prepared photoanode exhibits an enhanced PEC performance with a distinctly increased photocurrent and remarkably ameliorated stability in contrast to the ZnO photoanode. This research would provide an innovative perspective on the design of organic/inorganic semiconductor heterojunctions with excellent performance and stability for PEC water-splitting systems.