Facile synthesis of Bi2S3 nanosheet/Zr:Fe2O3 nanorod heterojunction: Effect of Ag interlayer on the change transport and photoelectrochemical stability

Abstract In this work, the hydrothermal approach has been used to prepare and control the morphology of Bi 2 S 3 nanosheet (NS)/Zr doped Fe 2 O 3 nanorod (NR) heterojunction grown on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) phoptoelectrodes. The effect of morphology of Bi 2 S 3 NS was examined by comparing the photocatalytic activity of Zr:Fe 2 O 3 nanorod with synthesized heterojunctions. This novel heterojunction photoanode exhibits the light harvesting, the photoinduced electron–hole separation and yielding a maximum photocurrent density of ∼1.27 mA cm −2 at −0.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl under one sun illumination. Bi 2 S 3 NS on surface of the Zr:Fe 2 O 3 NR will act as the active material which shows the dramatic improvement in photocurrent generation. Further, effect of silver interlayer on the interface properties of Bi 2 S 3 NS/Zr:Fe 2 O 3 NR heterojunction was also studied. The results indicated that the silver interlayer reduces charge recombination at interface of Bi 2 S 3 and Zr:Fe 2 O 3 . Also, the surface plasmon resonance of Ag and controlled morphology enhances the performance (1.5 mA cm −2 at −0.4 V) as well as improves the stability of Bi 2 S 3 /Zr:Fe 2 O 3 heterojunction photoelectrode. This unique design of the nanoarchitecture provides an attractive pathway for the photogenerated electrons and the silver interlayers has great impact on enhancing charge separation and improving stability of photoanode.