Enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen production using silicon nanowires@MoS3

The composite of silicon nanowires (SiNWs) and MoS3 (SiNWs@MoS3) was fabricated by a convenient method. In comparison with SiNWs, SiNWs MoS3 exhibits remarkably enhanced photocurrent during photoelectrochemical hydrogen production. The photoelectrochemical performance of SiNWs MoS3 is comparable to that of the composite of SiNWs and Pt nanoparticles (SiNWs@PtNPs). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy experiments suggest that the enhanced performance of SiNWs MoS3 can be attributed to small charge transfer resistance (i.e. fast H+ reduction kinetics) at SiNWs MoS3/electrolyte interface, and the large electrochemically active surface area of SiNWs MoS3. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.