Issue 40, 2007
From the journal:

Journal of Materials Chemistry

Confinement of nano CdS in designated glass: a novel functionality of quantum dot–glass nanosystems in solar hydrogen production†

Bharat B. Kale,*a   Jin-Ook Baeg,*b   Sanjay K. Apte,a   Ravindra S. Sonawane,a   Sonali D. Naika  and  Kashinath R. Patilc  

* Corresponding authors

a Center For Materials For Electronics Technology (C-MET), Ministry of Information and Technology, Govt of India, Panchawati, off Pashan Road, Pune, India
E-mail: kbbb1@yahoo.com

b Advanced Chemical Technology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Yusong, Daejon, Republic of Korea
E-mail: jobaeg@krict.re.kr
Fax: +82 42 8607582
Tel: +82 42 8607560

c National Chemical Laboratory, Pashan Road, Pune, India

Abstract

The present work is the investigation of our novel approach to designing quantum dot–glass nanosystems by confining nano CdS in designated glass and the first employment of such a quantum dot system in solar hydrogen production. The CdS quantum dots were grown in a special glass matrix, which involved a sequence of steps. The obtained glass was of uniformly bright yellow in color and the bulk glass was pulverized to a fine powder of micron size particles. The glass powder was characterized structurally and morphologically. X-Ray diffraction and electron diffraction patterns reveal a hexagonal crystallite system for the CdS quantum dots. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and chemical leaching with HCl studies demonstrate that the 2.5 nm size CdS quantum dots distribute homogeneously in a monodispersed form in the glass domain and on the surface with a “partially embedded exposure” configuration. This disposition imparts an excellent photostability against photocorrosion and also a facile catalytic function. Therefore, even a very small amount of CdS quantum dots (0.005 g per gram of glass powder) is able to photodecompose H2S under visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm) both in alkaline and pure aqueous media and produce solar hydrogen with markedly high quantum yields of 17.5 and 11.4%, respectively at 470 nm. Salient features like reusability after simple washing, corrosionless-stability and remarkable catalytic activity of this quantum dot–glass nanosystem are brought forth by our novel catalyst design and are much acclaimed in large scale solar H2 production.

Graphical abstract: Confinement of nano CdS in designated glass: a novel functionality of quantum dot–glass nanosystems in solar hydrogen production

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B708269J
Article type
Paper
Submitted
31 May 2007
Accepted
30 Jul 2007
First published
16 Aug 2007

J. Mater. Chem., 2007,17, 4297-4303

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Confinement of nano CdS in designated glass: a novel functionality of quantum dot–glass nanosystems in solar hydrogen production

B. B. Kale, J. Baeg, S. K. Apte, R. S. Sonawane, S. D. Naik and K. R. Patil, J. Mater. Chem., 2007, 17, 4297 DOI: 10.1039/B708269J

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