Photoelectrolchemical performance of PbS/CdS quantum dots co-sensitized TiO2 nanosheets array film photoelectrodes

Herein, PbS/CdS quantum dots (QDs) co-sensitized titanium dioxide nanosheets array (TiO2NSs) films were reported for the first time. The TiO2NSs films exposed {001} facets were vertically grown on transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates by a facile hydrothermal method. The PbS/CdS QDs were assembled on TiO2NSs photoelectrode by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR). The X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified that QDs with a diameter less than 20 nm were uniformly anchored on the surface of the TiO2NSs films. The QDs co-sensitization can significantly extend the absorption range and increase the absorption property of the photoelectrode by UV-vis absorption spectra. The optimal photoelectrolchemical (PEC) performance of PbS/CdS QDs co-sensitization TiO2NSs was with photocurrent density of 6.12 mA cm−2 under an illumination of AM 1.5 G, indicating the TiO2NSs films co-sensitized by PbS/CdS QDs have potential applications in solar cells.