Developing
cost-effective noble metal-free co-catalysts as alternatives
to platinum group metals is an impeccable strategy to enhance photoelectrochemical
(PEC) water splitting. In this report, we successfully fabricated
CuInS2 nanosheet array-based photocathode modified with
CdS and co-catalyst MoS2 in a green approach to improve
water splitting under solar irradiation. The visible light absorption
of the modified hybrid photocathode (CIS/CdS/MoS2) was
significantly enhanced due to introducing CdS and MoS2.
Photoluminescence, impedance spectroscopy, and Mott–Schottky
analysis depicted improved separation of excited electron–hole
pairs, minimized resistance of charge transfer, and increased excited-state
charge carrier concentration, resulting in increased photocurrent.
Typical results indicated that composite photoelectrodes delivered
higher photocurrent (−1.75 mA/cm2 at 0 V vs RHE)
and HC-STH conversion efficiency (0.42% at 0.49 V vs RHE) than those
of CIS and CIS/CdS photoelectrodes. This improved PEC performance
is accredited to the synergetic impact of CdS in charge generation
and transfer and MoS2 as a cocatalyst with active surface
sites for proton reduction. This study not only reveals the promising
nature of CuInS2-based light absorber photocathodes for
solar energy utilization but also recommends the use of MoS2 as a cocatalyst for the proton reduction reactions for widespread
applications in solar to hydrogen conversion.