Efficient photoanode with a MoS₂/TiO₂/Au nanoparticle heterostructure for ultraviolet-visible photoelectrocatalysis

Green energy technology is generally becoming one of hot issues that need to be solved due to the adverse effects on the environment of fossil fuels. One of the strategies being studied and developed by theorists and experimentalists is the use of photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells, which are emerging as a candidate to produce hydrogen from water splitting. However, creating photoelectrodes that meet the requirements for PEC water splitting has emerged as the primary obstacle in bringing this technology to commercial fruition. Here, we construct a heterostructure, which consists of MoS₂/TiO₂/Au nanoparticles (NPs) to overcome the drawbacks of the photoanode. Owing to the dependence on charge transfer, the bandgap of MoS₂/TiO₂and the utilization the Au NPs as a stimulant for charges separation of TiO₂by localized surface plasmon resonances effect as well as the increase of hot electron injection to cathode, leading to photocatalytic activities are improved. The results have recorded a significant increase in the photocurrent density from 2.3μAcm-2of TiO₂to approximately 16.3μAcm-2of MoS₂/TiO₂/Au NPs. This work unveils a promising route to enhance the visible light adsorption and charge transfer in photo-electrode of the PEC cells by combining two-dimensional materials with metal NPs.