Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Heterojunction for Improving Photoelectrochemical Properties of Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> Thin Films

We prepared antimony metal films via electrodeposition, followed by the synthesis of Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> films through a chemical vapor phase reaction. Finally, an Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> film was deposited onto the Sb<sub>2</sub&g...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Honglei Tan, Jia Yang, Zhaofeng Cui, Renjie Tan, Teng Li, Baoqiang Xu, Shaoyuan Li, Bin Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Metals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/5/478
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Summary:We prepared antimony metal films via electrodeposition, followed by the synthesis of Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> films through a chemical vapor phase reaction. Finally, an Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> film was deposited onto the Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> film using a chemical bath method, successfully constructing a heterojunction photocathode of Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>; the synthesized Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> heterojunction is classified as a Type I heterostructure. The resulting Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> heterojunction exhibited a photocurrent density of −0.056 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> at −0.15 V (vs. RHE), which is 1.40 times higher than that of Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub> alone under simulated solar illumination. Additionally, the Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> heterojunction demonstrated a lower carrier recombination rate and a faster charge transfer rate compared to Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, as evidenced by photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests. For these reasons, the Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> heterojunction obtained a hydrogen precipitation rate of 0.163mL cm<sup>−2</sup> h<sup>−1</sup>, which is twice the hydrogen precipitation rate of Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>, under the condition of 60 min of light exposure. The significant enhancement in photoelectrochemical performance is attributed to the formation of the Sb<sub>2</sub>S<sub>3</sub>/Sb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> heterojunction, which improves both carrier separation and charge transfer efficiency. This heterojunction strategy holds promising potential for visible light-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting.
ISSN:2075-4701