Photoelectrolchemical performance of PbS/CdS quantum dots co-sensitized TiO2 nanosheets array film photoelectrodes

Herein, PbS/CdS quantum dots (QDs) co-sensitized titanium dioxide nanosheets array (TiO(2)NSs) films were reported for the first time. The TiO(2)NSs films exposed {001} facets were vertically grown on transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates by a facile hydrothermal method. The PbS/CdS QDs were assembled on TiO(2)NSs photoelectrode by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). The X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified that QDs with a diameter less than 20 nm were uniformly anchored on the surface of the TiO(2)NSs films. The QDs co-sensitization can significantly extend the absorption range and increase the absorption property of the photoelectrode by UVevis absorption spectra. The optimal photoelectrolchemical (PEC) performance of PbS/CdS QDs co-sensitization TiO(2)NSs was with photocurrent density of 6.12 mA cm(-2) under an illumination of AM 1.5 G, indicating the TiO(2)NSs films co-sensitized by PbS/CdS QDs have potential applications in solar cells. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.