CdS and CdSe nanoparticles activated 1D TiO2 heterostructure nanoarray photoelectrodes for enhanced photoelectrocatalytic water splitting

Herein, we report the fabrication of nanocrystals activated 1D TiO2 nanorods heterostructure photoanode with top-open vertical photoanode structure by hydrothermal and SILAR method. The vertical nanorod heterostructure could effectively manifest the interface with electrolyte and photoanode for dynamic water oxidation. Furthermore, thermodynamically stable TiO2 nanorod and its conduction band alignment with CdS and CdSe nanocrystals uphold the charge separation and culminate the photocurrent density to 2.01 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V RHE. The decoration of CdS and CdSe co-crystals on TiO2 exhibited a significantly enhanced photoresponse and clear evidence of the negative shift of onset-potential with a five-fold increment of solar to hydrogen generation.