Solar-Driven Photoelectrochemical Performance of Novel ZnO/Ag2WO4/AgBr Nanorods-Based Photoelectrodes

Abstract

Abstract Highly efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation under solar visible light is crucial for water splitting to produce hydrogen as a source of sustainable energy. Particularly, silver-based nanomaterials are important for PEC performance due to their surface plasmon resonance which can enhance the photoelectrochemical efficiency. However, the PEC of ZnO/Ag2WO4/AgBr with enhanced visible-light water oxidation has not been studied so far. Herein, we present a novel photoelectrodes based on ZnO/Ag2WO4/AgBr nanorods (NRs) for PEC application, which is prepared by the low-temperature chemical growth method and then by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The synthesized photoelectrodes were investigated by several characterization techniques, emphasizing a successful synthesis of the ZnO/Ag2WO4/AgBr heterostructure NRs with excellent photocatalysis performance compared to pure ZnO NRs photoelectrode. The significantly enhanced PEC was due to improved photogeneration and transportation of electrons in the heterojunction due to the synergistic effect of the heterostructure. This study is significant for basic understanding of the photocatalytic mechanism of the heterojunction which can prompt further development of novel efficient photoelectrochemical-catalytic materials. Graphic Abstract

Keywords

• ZnO nanorods
• Silver tungsten
• Silver bromide
• Heterojunction
• Photoelectrodes
• Water oxidation