Dual modification with plasmonic Ag and Co–Pi significantly promoted photoelectrochemical performances of CdS photoanodes

The photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of CdS are restricted by severe separation and transfer of photogenerated charge and poor surface water oxidation kinetics. Herein, a CdS/Ag/Co–Pi photoanode was been fabricated, in which Ag nanoparticles acted as photosensitizers to extend absorption capacity of CdS and facilitate the efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers due to the SPR effect (Surface Plasmon Resonance); meanwhile, Co–Pi co-catalyst serves as a hole transfer to capture h + through the changeable electrovalence of cobalt ions and promote effective charge separation. Consequently, the photocurrent density of CdS/Ag/Co–Pi achieved 3.47 mA cm 2 (1.23 V vs RHE), which was about 2.4 times than that of pure CdS under AM 1.5 G illumination. In this paper, the CdS photoelectrode with both co-catalyst and noble metal was researched to solve the recombination of electron–hole pair and photocorrosion of electrodes, providing a new strategy for highly efficient water splitting application.