Preparation and Photoelectrochemical Properties of CdSe/TiO2 Hybrid Mesoporous Structures

We report on the design and synthesis of a novel CdSe/TiO2 hybrid mesoporous structure and its implementation as a photoanode for photoelectro-chemical (PEC) application. The CdSe/TiO2 hybrid mesoporous structure was produced by assembling CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and TiO2 nanoctystals into CdSe/TiO2 hybrid colloidal spheres, followed by calcination to remove the capping ligands between. CdSe and TiO2. Compared to the system involving CdSe QDs directly linked to TiO2 through molecular linkers, this CdSe/TiO2 hybrid mesoporous structure affords the advantage of better interfacial coupling between CdSe and TiO2 due to closer contact. As a result, the CdSe/TiO2 hybrid mesoporous structure exhibits significantly improved photoresponse as a photoanode, as demonstrated successfully in comparative PEC studies. This study illustrates the importance of fundamental structural control in influencing PEC properties of hybrid assembled nanostructures.