Issue 22, 2018

A photo-responsive electrocatalyst: CdSe quantum dot sensitized WS2 nanosheets for hydrogen evolution in neutral solution

Abstract

Combining photochemical and electrochemical energy conversion into a single catalytic system is an efficient method for energy generation. In this paper, to increase the electrocatalytic activity of 2H-WS2 nanosheets, CdSe quantum dots (QDs) are introduced as sensitizers to design a novel photo-responsive electrode. The electrocatalytic HER activity of the nanocomposites is observably enhanced under 300 W Xe lamp irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm, the overpotential decreases from −1030 mV vs. RHE to −400 mV vs. RHE at a cathodic current density of 10 mA cm−2 in neutral electrolyte without adding any sacrificial agent, and the Tafel slope decreases from 132 mV dec−1 to 56 mV dec−1). Moreover, the photo-enhanced electrocatalyst demonstrates high stability, which is reflected by a steady-state performance for more than 24 h. This strategy may have potential use in designing and fabricating novel photo-assisted electrocatalysts.

Graphical abstract: A photo-responsive electrocatalyst: CdSe quantum dot sensitized WS2 nanosheets for hydrogen evolution in neutral solution

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
31 Jul 2018
Accepted
18 Sep 2018
First published
02 Oct 2018

New J. Chem., 2018,42, 18021-18027

A photo-responsive electrocatalyst: CdSe quantum dot sensitized WS2 nanosheets for hydrogen evolution in neutral solution

Y. Zhong, B. Chang, Y. Shao, Y. Wu and X. Hao, New J. Chem., 2018, 42, 18021 DOI: 10.1039/C8NJ03810D

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