Chemical synthesis and photoelectrochemical study of CdS/rGO nanocomposite films

Nikam, Ranjit  P.; Lokhande, Abhishekh C.; Khot, Sambhaji D.; Mane, Vikas J.; Lokhande, Chandrakant D.; Nikam, Ranjit  P.; Lokhande, Abhishekh C.; Khot, Sambhaji D.; Mane, Vikas J.; Lokhande, Chandrakant D.

doi:2023.60.2.238

J. Korean Ceram. Soc. > Volume 60(2); 2023 > Article

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society 2023;60(2): 238-251.
doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-022-00258-1

Chemical synthesis and photoelectrochemical study of CdS/rGO nanocomposite films

Ranjit P. Nikam¹, Abhishekh C. Lokhande², Sambhaji D. Khot¹, Vikas J. Mane¹, Chandrakant D. Lokhande¹

¹Centre For Interdisciplinary Research, D. Y. Patil Education Society (Deemed to be University), Kolhapur 416 006, India
²Applied Quantum Materials Laboratory (AQML), Department of Physics, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 127788, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Correspondence

Ranjit P. Nikam ,Email: ranjitnikam012@gmail.com

Received: March 24, 2022; Revised: October 6, 2022 Accepted: October 19, 2022. Published online: November 14, 2022.

ABSTRACT

The cadmium sulfide/reduced graphene oxide (CdS/rGO) composite thin films were synthesized on stainless steel (SS) substrates using the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. The physico-chemical properties of CdS/rGO films were studied. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the growth of nanocrystalline CdS/rGO films with a cubic crystal structure. The field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images of CdS/rGO-80 composite thin films showed compact spherical nanoparticles and an optical band gap found to be 2.27 eV. The CdS/rGO-80 composite thin film displayed hydrophilic nature with a water contact angle of 33°. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) studies of CdS/rGO thin film in dark and under light exhibited n-type of electrical conductivity with an improved photoactivity over bare CdS in 1 M polysulfide (NaOH + Na₂S + S) electrolyte. It is observed that rGO composited CdS thin film enhances the conversion efficiency (η) from 0.09 to 0.31% than bare CdS films. The electrical transport properties were investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) study in dark and under illumination conditions and corresponding equivalent circuit of the impedance model is developed.

Key words: Cadmium sulfide · Chemical synthesis · Reduced graphene oxide · Successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction · Thin film