Exploring Graphene Quantum Dots/TiO2 interface in photoelectrochemical reactions: Solar to fuel conversion
By Pitchaimuthu Sudhagar and Isaac Herraiz-Cardona and Hun Park and Taesup Song and Seung Hyun Noh and Sixto Gimenez and Ivan Mora Sero and Francisco Fabregat-Santiago and Juan Bisquert and Chiaki Terashima and Ungyu Paik and Yong Soo Kang and Akira Fujishima and Tae Hee Han
Published in Electrochimica Acta
2016
Abstract
Photocarrier (e?/h+) generation at low dimension graphene quantum dots offers multifunctional applications including bioimaging, optoelectronics and energy conversion devices. In this context, graphene quantum dots onto metal oxide electron transport layer finds great deal of attention in solar light driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen fuel generation. The merits of combining tailored optical properties of the graphene quantum dots sensitizer with the transport properties of the host wide band gap one dimensional nanostructured semiconductor provide a platform for high charge collection which promotes catalytic proton reduction into fuel generation at \PEC\ cells. However, understanding the underlying mechanism of photocarrier transfer characteristics at graphene quantum dots/metal oxide interface during operation is often difficult as graphene quantum dots may have a dual role as sensitizer and catalyst. Therefore, exploring photocarrier generation and injection at graphene quantum dot/metal oxide heterointerfaces in contact with hole scavenging electrolyte afford a new pathway in developing graphene quantum dots based photoelectrochemical fuel generation systems. In this work, we demonstrate direct assembly of surface modified graphene quantum dots (?2 nm particle size) onto TiO2 hollow nanowire (?3 ?m in length and ?100 to 250 nm in diameter) by electrostatic attraction and examine the photocarrier accumulation and recombination processes leading to device operation. Optical characterization reveals that \GQDs\ absorbed light photons at visible light wavelength up to 600 nm. Hybrid TiO2-GQDs heterostructures show a photocurrent enhancement of ?70% for water oxidation compared to pristine TiO2 using sacrificial-free electrolyte, which is further validated by incident photon to current efficiency. Additionally, the charge accumulation processes and charge transfer characteristics are investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. These results provide the platform to understand the insights of graphene quantum dots/metal oxide interfaces in \PEC\ reactions and discuss the feasibility of graphene quantum dots in wide range of electrochemical and photoelectrochemical based fuel conversion devices.