Silver sulfide nanoparticles sensitized titanium dioxide nanotube arrays synthesized by in situ sulfurization for photocatalytic hydrogen production

• Well-dispersed Ag2S NPs on the TNAs was carried out by facile sulfurization method.
• Coupling with Ag2S NPs can signally improve the photocatalytic activity of TNAs.
• A maximum photoconversion efficiency of 1.21% was obtained from Ag2S NPs/TNAs.
• The hydrogen production rate of Ag2S NPs/TNAs was up to 1.13 mL/cm2 h.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube arrays (TNAs) sensitized with silver sulfide (Ag2S) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via facile in situ sulfurization. Metallic silver NPs were first loaded on TNAs through a simple electrodeposition process. The as-prepared Ag/TNAs composites were further treated with a solution of acetonitrile containing sulfur (S8) and dried in vacuum to obtain a new nanocomposite material comprising of TNAs sensitized with Ag2S NPs. In these composite nanostructures, ultrafine Ag2S NPs were well-dispersed and assembled on the exterior and interior walls of the TNAs. Owing to sensitizing with a narrow bandgap material like Ag2S and the homogeneous distribution of the Ag2S NP heterojunction structures over the surface of the TNAs, the synthesized nanocomposite samples exhibited remarkable capability to absorb visible light and showed a significant enhancement in the photocatalytic efficiency of hydrogen generation. Under visible light illumination (100 mW/cm2), a maximum photoconversion efficiency of 1.21% and the highest hydrogen production rate of 1.13 mL/cm2 h were obtained from the TNA electrodes sensitized with Ag2S NPs.

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