Effects of Mono- and Bifunctional Surface Ligands of Cu–In–Se Quantum Dots on Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Semiconductor nanocrystal quantum dots (QDs) are promising materials for solar energy conversion because of their bandgap tunability, high absorption coefficient, and improved hot-carrier generation. CuInSe2 (CISe)-based QDs have attracted attention because of their low toxicity and wide light-absorption range, spanning visible to near-infrared light. In this work, we study the effects of the surface ligands of colloidal CISe QDs on the photoelectrochemical characteristics of QD-photoanodes. Colloidal CISe QDs with mono- and bifunctional surface ligands are prepared and used in the fabrication of type-II heterojunction photoanodes by adsorbing QDs on mesoporous TiO2. QDs with monofunctional ligands are directly attached on TiO2 through partial ligand detachment, which is beneficial for electron transfer between QDs and TiO2. In contrast, bifunctional ligands bridge QDs and TiO2, increasing the amount of QD adsorption. Finally, photoanodes fabricated with oleylamine-passivated QDs show a current density of ~8.2 mA/cm2, while those fabricated with mercaptopropionic-acid-passivated QDs demonstrate a current density of ~6.7 mA/cm2 (at 0.6 VRHE under one sun illumination). Our study provides important information for the preparation of QD photoelectrodes for efficient photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation.