Hierarchical CdS Nanorod@SnO2 Nanobowl Arrays for Efficient and Stable Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Generation

An efficient photoanode based on CdS nanorod@SnO2 nanobowl (CdS NR@SnO2 NB) arrays is designed and fabricated by the preparation of SnO2 nanobowl arrays via nanosphere lithography followed by hydrothermal growth of CdS nanorods on the inner surface of the SnO2 nanobowls. A photoelectrochemical (PEC) device constructed by using this hierarchical CdS NR@SnO2 NB photoanode presents significantly enhanced performance with a photocurrent density of 3.8 mA cm(-2) at 1.23 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) under AM1.5G solar light irradiation, which is about 2.5 times higher than that of CdS nanorod arrays. After coating with a thin layer of SiO2, the photostability of the CdS NR@SnO2 NB arrays is greatly enhanced, resulting in a stable photoanode with a photocurrent density of 3.0 mA cm(-2) retained at 1.23 V versus the RHE. The much improved performance of the CdS NR@SnO2 NB arrays toward PEC hydrogen generation can be ascribed to enlarged surface area arising from the hierarchical nanostructures, improved light harvesting owing to the NR@NB architecture containing multiple scattering centers, and enhanced charge separation/collection efficiency due to the favorable CdS-SnO2 heterojunction.