Synthesis and Characterization of 1D CdS@Vanadium Doped ZnO Nanorods Arrays for Superior Interface Stability and Photoactivity to Produce Hydrogen

Abstract

A novel photoactive core-shell CdS@V doped ZnO nanorod (NR) heterostructure was successfully synthesized using hydrothermal and SILAR techniques. The crystallographic structures, phases, and compositions of all photoanodes were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphology and confirm the core-shell structure of the photoanodes. A novel core shell CdS@vdoped ZnO NRs heterostructure was synthesized and characterized successfully for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. 8 cycled CdS was optimized on NRs with photocurrent density values 0.06 mA/cm2. It shows the lowest charge transfer resistance, band gap values and the highest photoconversion efficiency values. After doping with V ions, the photocurrents density values and photoconversion efficiency values started to increase and charge transfer resistance goes to decrease. The photocatalyst CdS@vdoped ZnO NRs shows the highest photocurrent density values 0.51 mA/cm2 and the lowest charge transfer resistance values 5.724 kΩ in the light. It shows the highest photoconversion efficiency value 0.24% vs RHE. This shows the successful type-II heterojunction formation which increase the charge carrier transfer and reduces the charge recombination by making Schottky barrier between them.