Yolk-shell ZnO@C-CeO ternary heterostructures with conductive N-doped carbon mediated electron transfer for highly efficient water splitting.

Herein, carbon-incorporated yolk-shell ZnO@C-CeO ternary heterostructures are employed as visible light responsive photocatalyst for highly efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Compared to conventional ZnO/CeO semiconductors, introduction of a thin PDA shell layer assures the generation of a conductive N-doped graphitic carbon layer after a calcination post-treatment with mesoporous hollow morphologies. The evaluation of PEC water splitting performance of ZnO@C-CeO photoanodes reveals the maximum photocurrent density as 7.43 mA/cm at 1.18 V RHE under light whereas almost no response is recorded at dark. These superior PEC H evolution performance strongly implies efficient charge separation, facilitated charge transfer between photoanode and electrolyte interface as well as within the semiconductor bulk by means of rapid electron transfer ability of N-doped graphitic carbon layer and prolong life time of light inside yolk-shell structure. Furthermore, considerable depression in PL intensity of ZnO@C-CeO photoanodes compared to ZnO clearly reveals a higher photon absorption due to the reflection of light in hollow region and increase in electron hole separation efficiency. Moreover, plausible Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism using ZnO@C-CeO photoanodes under visible light illumination is verified using radical trapping experiments and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods, suggesting new generation of heterostructures for sufficient conversion of sunlight to H fuels.