Water-splitting performance of Cu-In-S compounds/1D-Na2Ti6O13/FTO photoelectrodes

• Published in: Electronic materials letters Vol. 8; no. 4; pp. 387 - 390
• Main Authors: Ku, Hye-Kyung, Oh, Hyo-Jin, Noh, Kyung-Jong, Jung, Sang-Chul, Kang, Wooseung, Kim, Sun-Jae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials 01.08.2012; 대한금속·재료학회
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed Matter Physics; Materials Science; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology and Microengineering; Optical and Electronic Materials; 전자/정보통신공학; molten salt; Na; polyol process; Ti; photoelectrode; water-splitting; O
• ISSN: 1738-8090; 2093-6788
• DOI: 10.1007/s13391-012-2018-x

An approximately 700 nm thick film of 1D-Na 2 Ti 6 O 13 nanorods, synthesized by heating a mixture of Natitanate nanotubes and NaCl at 810°C, was fabricated using LBL-SA technique. To improve the photoactivity of the coated film, Cu x S, In 2 S 3 and CuInS 2 were synthesized and incorporated into the film by the polyol process. The thicknesses of Cu x S, In 2 S 3 and CuInS 2 films incorporated into the film were 2 µm, 2 µm, and 40 µm, respectively. A deterioration of photocurrent was observed with the film incorporated with In 2 S 3 particles. However, the films with Cu x S or CuInS 2 showed improved photocurrent, and the onset voltage was also reduced to 0.4 V. The performance of the films incorporated with 40 µm thick CuInS 2 were affected by the light direction; a higher photocurrent was measured with the light illuminated through opposite side of the film.