Enhanced photoelectrochemical performance of PbS sensitized Sb-SnO2/TiO2 nanotube arrays electrode under visible light illumination

The novel PbS sensitized Sb-SnO2/TiO2 nanotube arrays (NTAs) composite electrode (PbS/Sb-SnO2/TiO2 NTAs) was fabricated by microwave combined with sonication-assisted successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction technique (S-SILAR). The obtained electrodes were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectra techniques. Enhanced photocurrent (15.52 mA/cm2) of the PbS/Sb-SnO2/TiO2 NTAs electrode was observed and can be attributed to the facile photo-generated electrons transfer and enhanced charge separation efficiency. Furthermore, the PbS/Sb-SnO2/TiO2 NTAs composite electrode shows a higher H2 production rate than the Sb-SnO2/TiO2 NTAs electrode and PbS/TiO2 NTAs electrode. The results indicate that the PbS/Sb-SnO2/TiO2 NTAs electrode is a promising photoanode in visible photocatalytic water splitting.