Facile synthesis of Bi₂S₃ nanosheet/Zr:Fe₂O₃ nanorod heterojunction: Effect of Ag interlayer on the change transport and photoelectrochemical stability

In this work, the hydrothermal approach has been used to prepare and control the morphology of Bi₂S₃ nanosheet (NS)/Zr doped Fe₂O₃ nanorod (NR) heterojunction grown on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) phoptoelectrodes. The effect of morphology of Bi₂S₃ NS was examined by comparing the photocatalytic activity of Zr:Fe₂O₃ nanorod with synthesized heterojunctions. This novel heterojunction photoanode exhibits the light harvesting, the photoinduced electron–hole separation and yielding a maximum photocurrent density of ∼1.27 mA cm⁻² at −0.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl under one sun illumination. Bi₂S₃ NS on surface of the Zr:Fe₂O₃ NR will act as the active material which shows the dramatic improvement in photocurrent generation. Further, effect of silver interlayer on the interface properties of Bi₂S₃ NS/Zr:Fe₂O₃ NR heterojunction was also studied. The results indicated that the silver interlayer reduces charge recombination at interface of Bi₂S₃ and Zr:Fe₂O₃. Also, the surface plasmon resonance of Ag and controlled morphology enhances the performance (1.5 mA cm⁻² at −0.4 V) as well as improves the stability of Bi₂S₃/Zr:Fe₂O₃ heterojunction photoelectrode. This unique design of the nanoarchitecture provides an attractive pathway for the photogenerated electrons and the silver interlayers has great impact on enhancing charge separation and improving stability of photoanode.