Effect of Varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> Concentrations on Performance of Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO Photoanode
This research focuses on improving the photoelectrochemical performance of binary heterostructure Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO by manipulating synthesis conditions, particularly the concentrations of sliver nitrate AgNO<sub>3</sub> and thiourea CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)&l...
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/8/2950 |
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| author | Araa Mebdir Holi Zulkarnain Zainal Asla A. Al-Zahrani Asmaa Kadim Ayal Asmaa Soheil Najm |
| author_facet | Araa Mebdir Holi Zulkarnain Zainal Asla A. Al-Zahrani Asmaa Kadim Ayal Asmaa Soheil Najm |
| author_sort | Araa Mebdir Holi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This research focuses on improving the photoelectrochemical performance of binary heterostructure Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO by manipulating synthesis conditions, particularly the concentrations of sliver nitrate AgNO<sub>3</sub> and thiourea CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>. The photoelectrochemical performance of Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO nanorods on indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocomposite was compared to pristine ZnO NRs/ITO photoanode. The hydrothermal technique, an eco-friendly, low-cost method, was used to successfully produce Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs at different concentrations of AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>. The obtained thin films were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), and photoelectrochemical studies (PECs). We observed that there was an enhancement in absorbance in the visible region and effective photoelectron transfer between the Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO photoelectrode and the electrolyte Red-Ox when illuminated with 100 mW cm<sup>−2</sup>. Increasing the concentration of AgNO<sub>3</sub> caused a remarkable decrease in the optical bandgap energy (<i>E<sub>g</sub></i>) values. However, we noticed that there was an unstable trend in <i>E<sub>g</sub></i> when the concentration of CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> was adjusted. The photoelectrochemical studies revealed that at a bias of 1.0 V, and 0.005 M of AgNO<sub>3</sub> and 0.03 M of CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>, the maximum photocurrent of the Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO photoanode was 3.97 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, which is almost 11 times that of plain ZnO nanorods. Based on the outcomes of this investigating, the Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO photoanode is proposed as a viable alternative photoanode in photoelectrochemical applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:42:00Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:42:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-18a9d3c68a224f6a8dd3139d1cf0fdf02023-11-30T21:04:44ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732022-04-01158295010.3390/en15082950Effect of Varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> Concentrations on Performance of Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO PhotoanodeAraa Mebdir Holi0Zulkarnain Zainal1Asla A. Al-Zahrani2Asmaa Kadim Ayal3Asmaa Soheil Najm4Department of Physics, College of Education, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah 58002, IraqMaterials Synthesis and Characterization Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Serdang 43400 UPM, MalaysiaDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Eastern Region, Dammam 34221, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, Baghdad 10071, IraqDepartment of Electrical Electronic & Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Bangi 43600 UKM, MalaysiaThis research focuses on improving the photoelectrochemical performance of binary heterostructure Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO by manipulating synthesis conditions, particularly the concentrations of sliver nitrate AgNO<sub>3</sub> and thiourea CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>. The photoelectrochemical performance of Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO nanorods on indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocomposite was compared to pristine ZnO NRs/ITO photoanode. The hydrothermal technique, an eco-friendly, low-cost method, was used to successfully produce Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs at different concentrations of AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>. The obtained thin films were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), and photoelectrochemical studies (PECs). We observed that there was an enhancement in absorbance in the visible region and effective photoelectron transfer between the Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO photoelectrode and the electrolyte Red-Ox when illuminated with 100 mW cm<sup>−2</sup>. Increasing the concentration of AgNO<sub>3</sub> caused a remarkable decrease in the optical bandgap energy (<i>E<sub>g</sub></i>) values. However, we noticed that there was an unstable trend in <i>E<sub>g</sub></i> when the concentration of CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> was adjusted. The photoelectrochemical studies revealed that at a bias of 1.0 V, and 0.005 M of AgNO<sub>3</sub> and 0.03 M of CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>, the maximum photocurrent of the Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO photoanode was 3.97 mA/cm<sup>2</sup>, which is almost 11 times that of plain ZnO nanorods. Based on the outcomes of this investigating, the Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO photoanode is proposed as a viable alternative photoanode in photoelectrochemical applications.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/8/2950varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> concentrationsAg<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO photoanodephotoelectrochemical performance |
| spellingShingle | Araa Mebdir Holi Zulkarnain Zainal Asla A. Al-Zahrani Asmaa Kadim Ayal Asmaa Soheil Najm Effect of Varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> Concentrations on Performance of Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO Photoanode Energies varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> concentrations Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO photoanode photoelectrochemical performance |
| title | Effect of Varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> Concentrations on Performance of Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO Photoanode |
| title_full | Effect of Varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> Concentrations on Performance of Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO Photoanode |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> Concentrations on Performance of Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO Photoanode |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> Concentrations on Performance of Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO Photoanode |
| title_short | Effect of Varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> Concentrations on Performance of Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO Photoanode |
| title_sort | effect of varying agno sub 3 sub and cs nh sub 2 sub sub 2 sub concentrations on performance of ag sub 2 sub s zno nrs ito photoanode |
| topic | varying AgNO<sub>3</sub> and CS(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> concentrations Ag<sub>2</sub>S/ZnO NRs/ITO photoanode photoelectrochemical performance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/8/2950 |
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