Green synthesis of near infrared core/shell quantum dots for photocatalytic hydrogen production.
Quantum dots (QDs) are attractive systems for potential applications in future solar energy technologies, due to their optical properties which are tunable as a function of size and composition. In this study, we synthesized PbS QDs with first excitonic peak in the range 1060 to 1300 nm using a PbCl2/sulfur molar ratio of 10:1. The first excitonic absorption peak from 1300 to 950 nm of the PbS/CdS core/shell QDs can be further synthesized via the cation exchange approach. Our method resulted in high quantum yield, good stability, monodisperse QD solutions with a full surface coverage by excess Cd cations. In addition, we used our core/shell QDs in a photoelectrochemical cell for hydrogen generation. This heterostructure exhibited a saturated photocurrent as high as 3.3 mA cm-2, leading to ∼29 ml cm-2d-1hydrogen generation, indicating the strong potential of our core/shell QDs for applications in water splitting.
Centre for Energy, Materials and Telecommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1650 Boul. Lionel-Boulet, Varennes (QC) J3X 1S2, Canada.
Haiguang
H
Zhao
Lei
L
Jin
Yufeng
Y
Zhou
AlOtaibi
A
Bandar
Zhiyuan
Z
Fan
Alexander O
AO
Govorov
Zetian
Z
Mi
Shuhui
S
Sun
Federico
F
Rosei
Alberto
A
Vomiero