Issue 9, 2024

Gradient oxygen doping triggered a microscale built-in electric field in CdIn2S4 for photoelectrochemical water splitting

Abstract

Construction of a built-in electric field has been identified as an attractive improvement strategy for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting by facilitating the carrier extraction from the inside to the surface. However, the promotion effect of the electric field is still restrained by the confined built-in area. Herein, we construct a microscale built-in electric field via gradient oxygen doping. The octahedral configuration of the synthesized CdIn2S4 (CIS) provides a structural basis, which enables the subsequent oxygen doping to reach a depth of ∼100 nm. Accordingly, the oxygen-doped CIS (OCIS) photoanode exhibits a microscale built-in electric field with band bending. Excellent PEC catalytic activity with a photocurrent density of 3.69 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE is achieved by OCIS, which is 3.1 times higher than that of CIS. Combining the results of thorough characterization and theoretical calculations, accelerating migration and separation of charge carriers have been determined as the reasons for the improvement. Meanwhile, the recombination risk at the doping centers has also been reduced to the minimum via optimal experiments. This work provides a new-generation idea for constructing a built-in electric field from the view point of bulky configuration towards PEC water splitting.

Graphical abstract: Gradient oxygen doping triggered a microscale built-in electric field in CdIn2S4 for photoelectrochemical water splitting

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
05 nov 2023
Accepted
22 jan 2024
First published
24 jan 2024

Nanoscale, 2024,16, 4620-4627

Gradient oxygen doping triggered a microscale built-in electric field in CdIn2S4 for photoelectrochemical water splitting

J. Sun, S. Han, F. Yao, R. Li, C. Fang, X. Zhang, Y. Wang, X. Xu, D. Wu, K. Liu, P. Xiong and J. Zhu, Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 4620 DOI: 10.1039/D3NR05609K

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