Chemical synthesis of BixSb2−xS3 (x = 0 to 2) thin films for photoelectrochemical water splitting

U. Chalapathi; Sambasivam Sangaraju; Salh Alhammadi; Krithikaa Mohanarangam; C. Parthasaradhi Reddy; Munirah D. Albaqami; Saikh Mohammad; Kiran Kumar Ganta; Si-Hyun Park

Results in Physics (Dec 2023)

Chemical synthesis of BixSb2−xS3 (x = 0 to 2) thin films for photoelectrochemical water splitting

U. Chalapathi,
Sambasivam Sangaraju,
Salh Alhammadi,
Krithikaa Mohanarangam,
C. Parthasaradhi Reddy,
Munirah D. Albaqami,
Saikh Mohammad,
Kiran Kumar Ganta,
Si-Hyun Park

Affiliations

U. Chalapathi: Department of Electronic Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, South Korea
Sambasivam Sangaraju: National Water & Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates
Salh Alhammadi: School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan-si 38541, South Korea
Krithikaa Mohanarangam: Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune Campus, Pune, India
C. Parthasaradhi Reddy: School of Science and Humanities, Department of Physics, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Avadi, Chennai, India
Munirah D. Albaqami: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Saikh Mohammad: Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Kiran Kumar Ganta: Department of Physics, B V Raju Institute of Technology, Narsapur, Medak District, Telangana, 502313, India
Si-Hyun Park: Department of Electronic Engineering, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, South Korea; Corresponding author.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 55
p. 107186

Abstract

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We report the synthesis of BixSb2−xS3 (x = 0 - 2) thin films on ITO-coated glass substrates via Bi-doping of Sb2S3 using chemical bath deposition (CBD). The structural, microstructural, elemental, optical, and photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties of the synthesized films were investigated. Elemental analysis confirmed the inclusion of Bi and a reduction in the Sb content in the BixSb2−xS3 films with an increase in the Bi-dopant concentration. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the transformation of pristine Sb2S3 into Bi0.76Sb1.24S3 and Bi2S3 when the Bi-doping concentration in the films was increased from x = 0 to 2. The films crystallized in an orthorhombic structure. The lattice parameters varied, and the crystallite size decreased from 42.6 to 19.6 nm as x increased from 0 to 2 for the BixSb2−xS3 films. Optical absorption studies revealed a reduction in the bandgap of BixSb2−xS3 from 1.68 to 1.55 eV with an increase in x from 0 to 2. PEC measurements revealed significant photoresponses of the BixSb2−xS3 photoanodes synthesized with x = 0, 1.0, and 2.0. The Bi0.76Sb1.24S3 photoanode synthesized with x = 1.0 exhibited a stable photocurrent of 1 mA/cm2 over a period of 630 s under light illumination owing to its low charge-transfer resistance and good charge-carrier separation. Thus, we demonstrated the synthesis of BixSb2−xS3 photoanodes using a simple and inexpensive CBD method for PEC water-splitting applications.

Published in Results in Physics

ISSN: 2211-3797 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/results-in-physics/

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