Fabrication of CdS nanotubes assisted by the template-free electrochemical synthesis method and their photo-electrochemical application

A cadmium sulfide nanotube (CdS NT) was successfully fabricated by a two-step route consisting of the template-free electrochemical deposition of cadmium hydroxide films at 298 K and their subsequent sulfurization by S2- ions. Photo-electrochemical solar cells using a combination of CdS NT, polysulfide (S-x(2-)/xS(2-)) and carbon electrode exhibited high IPCE (ca. 80%) at 510 nm due to efficient light-harvesting performance. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.