In-situ growth and immobilization of CdS nanoparticles onto functionalized MoS2: preparation, characterization and fabrication of photoelectrochemical cell
2 Esquemas.- 5 Figuras ; A facile strategy for the controllable growth of CdS nanoparticles at the periphery of MoS 2 en route the preparation of electron donor‐acceptor nanoensembles is developed. Precisely, the carboxylic group of α‐lipoic acid, as addend of the modified MoS 2 obtained upon 1,2‐dithiolane functionalization, was employed as anchor site for the in‐situ preparation and immobilization of the CdS nanoparticles in an one‐pot two‐step process. The newly prepared MoS 2 /CdS hybrid material was characterized by complementary spectroscopic, thermal and microscopy imaging means. Absorption spectroscopy was employed to register the formation of MoS 2 /CdS, by observing a broad shoulder centered at 420 nm due to CdS nanoparticles, while the excitonic bands of MoS 2 were also evident. Moreover, based on the efficient quenching of the characteristic fluorescence emission of CdS at 725 nm by the presence of MoS 2 , strong electronic interactions at the excited state between the two species within the ensemble were identified. Photoelectrochemical assays of MoS 2 /CdS thin‐film electrodes revealed a prompt, steady and reproducible anodic photoresponse during repeated on‐off cycles of illumination. A significant zero‐current photopotential of ‐540 mV and an anodic photocurrent of 1 μA were observed, underlining improved charge‐separation and electron transport from CdS to MoS 2 . The superior performance of the charge‐transfer processes in MoS 2 /CdS is of direct interest for the fabrication of photoelectrochemical and optoelectronic devices. ; This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 642742. Support of this work by the project "Advanced Materials and Devices" (MIS 5002409) which is implemented under the "Action for the Strategic Development on the Research and Technological Sector", which Submitted_Manuscript is implemented under the "Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructures", funded by the Operational Program "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation" (NSRF 2014-2020) and co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund) is also acknowledged. A.M.B. and W.K.M. acknowledge Spanish MINEICO (project grant ENE2016-79282-C5-1-R, AEI/FEDER, UE) and the Gobierno de Aragón (Grupo Reconocido DGA T03_17R, FEDER, UE). ; Peer reviewed