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Fabrication of co-doped CdSe quantum dot-sensitized TiO2 nanotubes by ultrasound-assisted method and their photoelectrochemical properties

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Abstract

TiO2 nanotubes (TiO2 NTs) sensitized with Co-doped CdSe quantum dots (Co-CdSe QDs) were synthesized through an ultrasound-assisted hydrothermal method. Crystallinity and morphology of the prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Atomic composition was investigated using an energy dispersive spectrometer. Vibration features and phonon modes were confirmed with a Raman spectrometer. Chemical composition and electronic structure were analyzed through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Photoelectrochemical behavior was measured with an electrochemical workstation under 300 W Xe lamp irradiation at room temperature. Results indicated the excellent stability and photoelectrochemical performance of the prepared samples. Compared with TiO2 NTs (0.06 mA cm−2), CdSe QD-sensitized TiO2 NTs (CdSe/TiO2 NTs) exhibited higher photoresponse (0.305 mA cm−2), whereas Co10at.%–CdSe QD-sensitized TiO2 NTs (Co10.at.%–CdSe/TiO2 NTs) showed the highest photoresponse with a stable photocurrent density up to 0.47 mA cm−2.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities Key Project (No. XDJK2017B062), the Central Universities Student Program (No. XDJK2017D011), and National Undergraduate Training Program for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (No. 201710635009).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Materials and Energy, Southwest University, No. 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei District, Chongqing, 400715, People’s Republic of China

    Zhou Mao, Hua Lin, Meng Xu, Jie Miao, Shijie He & Qing Li

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  1. Zhou Mao
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Correspondence to Hua Lin.

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Mao, Z., Lin, H., Xu, M. et al. Fabrication of co-doped CdSe quantum dot-sensitized TiO2 nanotubes by ultrasound-assisted method and their photoelectrochemical properties. J Appl Electrochem 48, 147–155 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-017-1138-2

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