Abstract
Hierarchical TiO2/ln(2)S(3)/AgInS2 trilaminar core-shell branched nanorod arrays (T-CS BNRs) have been fabricated directly on conducting glass substrates (FTO) via a facile, versatile and low-cost hydrothermal and successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. On the basis of optimal thickness of AgInS2 shell, such TiO2/ln(2)S(3)/AgInS2 T-CS BNRs exhibit a higher photocatalytic activity, the photocurrent density and efficiency for hydrogen generation are up to 22.13 mA.cm(-2) and 14.83%, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest value ever reported for similar nanostructures. The trilaminar architecture is able to suppress carrier recombination and increase electron collection efficiency via (i) increasing the photon absorption through the lager specific surface area of TiO2 BNRs and a sensitizer layer (AgInS2), (ii) a buffer layer (ln(2)S(3)), (iii) a better energy level alignment.