Cadmium selenide-sensitized upright-standing mesoporous zinc oxide nanosheets for efficient photoelectrochemical H2 production

Cadmium selenide(Cd Se)-sensitized upright-standing mesoporous zinc oxide(ZnO) nanosheets were prepared via a chemical bath deposition followed by annealing and electrochemical deposition of Cd Se quantum dots(QDs). The Cd Se QDs absorb visible photons under sunlight illumination, promoting electrons from the valence band to the conduction band of Cd Se, which then quickly transfer to ZnO followed by the external load to the Pt counter electrode for water reduction. The as-prepared Cd Se/ZnO nanosheets show promising photoelectrochemical activities for hydrogen generation.