In this paper, we present a simple method for preparation of graphene-ZnO nanocomposites (G-ZnO). The method is based on thermal treatment of the graphene oxide (GO)/ZnO paste which reduces the graphene oxide into the graphene and leads to the formation of the G-ZnO nanocomposite. The structure, morphology and optical properties of synthesized nanocomposites are characterized with XRD, FESEM, F...

We present a one-step solvothermal approach to prepare uniform graphene-TiO(2) nanocomposites with delicately controlled TiO(2) nanostructures, including ultra-small 2 nm nanoparticles, 12 nm nanoparticles and nanorods. Using three composites as photoanode materials, the effect of nanostructure of graphene-composited TiO(2) on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells was investigated, and ...

The effect of TiO2 layer applied to the conventional Fe2O3/FTO photoanode to improve the photoelectrochemical performance was assessed from the viewpoint of the microstructure and energy band structure. Regardless of the location of the TiO2 layer in the photoanodes, that is, Fe2O3/TiO2/FTO or TiO2/Fe2O3/FTO, high performance was obtained when α-Fe2O3 and H-TiNT/anatase-TiO2 phases existed in t...

A self-biasing photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell that could work for spontaneous overall water splitting in a neutral solution was established based on the mismatched Fermi levels between the photoelectrodes. A Pt-catalyst-decorated crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell (Pt/PVC) was prepared and employed as an effective photocathode. This was coupled with a poly(ethylene glycol)-directed WO3/W ph...

In the present work, a novel photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) system involving a dual heterojunction photoelectrodes, viz. polyaniline/TiO2 nanotubes (PANI/TiO2 NTs) photoanode and CuO/Co3O4 nanorods (CuO/Co3O4 NRs) photocathode, has been designed. Compared to TiO2 NTs electrode of PFC, the present heterojunction design not only enhances the visible light absorption but also offers the higher eff...

The design of active and stable semiconducting composites with enhanced photoresponse from visible light to near infrared (NIR) is a key to improve solar energy harvesting for photolysis of water in photoelectrochemical cell. In this study, we prepared earth abundant semiconducting composites consisting of iron pyrite and Titanium oxide as a photoanode (FeS2/TiO2 photoanode) for photoelectroche...

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) were fabricated by using well-crystallized ZnO nanocombs directly grown onto the fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) via noncatalytic thermal evaporation process. The thin films of as-grown ZnO nanocombs were used as photoanode materials to fabricate the DSSCs, which exhibited an overall light to electricity conversion efficiency of 0.68% with a fill factor of 34%,...

Oxygen evolution reaction (OER) occurring on photoanode is considered as the key step for photo-electronchemical (PEC) water splitting. Among many potential materials, hematite (?-Fe2O3) shows high promise considering its ideal band position, long-term chemical stability, and earth abundance. Unfortunately, sluggish oxygen kinetics at photoanode/electrolyte interfaces poor bulk charge transport...

Herein, we present a straightforward bottom-up synthesis of a high electron mobility and highly light scattering macroporous photoanode for dye-sensitized solar cells. The dense three-dimensional Al/ZnO, SnO(2), or TiO(2) host integrates a conformal passivation thin film to reduce recombination and a large surface-area mesoporous anatase guest for high dye loading. This novel photoanode is desi...

The development of an efficient photoanode remains the primary materials challenge in the establishment of a scalable technology for solar water splitting. The typical photoanode architecture consists of a semiconductor light absorber coated with a metal oxide that serves a combination of functions, including corrosion protection, electrocatalysis, light trapping, hole transport, and eliminatio...