One-pot synthesis of TiO2/Sb2S3/RGO complex multicomponent heterostructures for highly enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting

Abstract The development of new sources of renewable energy fuels like hydrogen remains challenging considering the nowadays society energy needs on a day-to-day basis. In this context, hybrid nanostructures conformed by TiO2 nanoparticles sensitized with bundles of rod-like Sb2S3 (stibnite) on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (TiO2/Sb2S3/RGO), can pave the way in this direction, as offering heterostructures that can be employed as the active phase in photo-anodes for photoelectrochemical water oxidation. For that, these TiO2/Sb2S3/RGO heterostructures are able to extend the light absorption to the visible range, enhance the charge separation and transportation, and improve the conductivity of the catalyst. Furthermore, the method of synthesis, though simple, implies a one-pot strategy by which the TiO2 nanoparticles and the Sb2S3 rod-like particles are independently produced at the surface of RGO sheets, warranties the proper improved function of the hybrids and offers the engineering of future chalcogenide-based catalysts with promising water splitting photoelectrochemical properties.