Ag(2)S/CdS/TiO(2) Nanotube Array Films with High Photocurrent Density by Spotting Sample Method

Ag(2)S/CdS/TiO(2) hybrid nanotube array films (Ag(2)S/CdS/TNTs) were prepared by selectively depositing a narrow-gap semiconductor—Ag(2)S (0.9 eV) quantum dots (QDs)—in the local domain of the CdS/TiO(2) nanotube array films by spotting sample method (SSM). The improvement of sunlight absorption ability and photocurrent density of titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanotube array films (TNTs) which were obtained by anodic oxidation method was realized because of modifying semiconductor QDs. The CdS/TNTs, Ag(2)S/TNTs, and Ag(2)S/CdS/TNTs fabricated by uniformly depositing the QDs into the TNTs via the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method were synthesized, respectively. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) results demonstrated that the Ag(2)S/CdS/TNTs prepared by SSM and other films were successfully prepared. In comparison with the four films of TNTs, CdS/TNTs, Ag(2)S/TNTs, and Ag(2)S/CdS/TNTs by SILAR, the Ag(2)S/CdS/TNTs prepared by SSM showed much better absorption capability and the highest photocurrent density in UV-vis range (320~800 nm). The cycles of local deposition have great influence on their photoelectric properties. The photocurrent density of Ag(2)S/CdS/TNTs by SSM with optimum deposition cycles of 6 was about 37 times that of TNTs without modification, demonstrating their great prospective applications in solar energy utilization fields.