The enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of CdS quantum dots sensitized TiO2 nanotube/nanowire/nanoparticle arrays hybrid nanostructures

This study aims at improving the photoelectrochemical performance mainly from two aspects: the increased number of heterojunctions and the advantages of nanotube/nanowire/nanoparticle arrays hybrid nanostructures. TiO2 nanoparticles porous layer was sensitized by CdS quantum dots (QDs), and coated on the top of the material, hydrogen-treated TiO2 nanotubes with nanowires, which was also sensitized by CdS QDs (This nanostructure is defined as CdS/H:TTWP). CdS/H: TTWP was successfully fabricated by the methods of electrochemical anodization, successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) and sol-gel. The data from the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance test shows that the photocurrent density of CdS/H: TTWP is 7.6 mA cm(-2) at -0.43 V vs. Ag-AgCl under AM 1.5 G illuminations.