Exploring co-catalytic graphene frameworks for improving photocatalytic activity of Tin disulfide nanoplates

The exploration of high efficient photocatalysts for water-splitting is a challenge as well as an opportunity for future applications in renewable sustainable energy. In this paper, a two dimensional photocatalytic Tin disulfide/graphene hybrid nanosheets (SnS2/rGO HNs) with identically 2D structural configurations have been prepared via a facile hydrothermal route. The as-prepared SnS2/rGO HNs photoanode demonstrates improved photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance when compared to bare SnS2 electrodes. X-ray diffraction pattern and Raman spectra are carried out and confirm that the as-prepared SnS2/rGO HNs are pure and well crystalized. Additional morphological and microstructural tests verify a high yield of SnS2/rGO HNs with good quality, indicating the relatively stability of graphene platform with high specific surface area. Further PEC measurements demonstrate the photocurrent density of SnS2/rGO HNs attain maximum under 100 mW/cm2 when the applied potential is 0 V and varies from 321 nA/cm2 to 244 nA/cm2 while the applied potential increase from 0 V to 1.0 V. Besides that, the duration test exhibits no detectable distinction after processing 25 cycles. The PEC improvement is proposed to derive from the positive synergetic effect between SnS2 and co-catalytic graphene framework. We hope this work can provide fundamental illustration about the PEC performance of two-dimensional SnS2/rGO HNs, offering extendable availabilities for its potential application into high-performance PEC and photovoltaic devices.