Photoelectrochemical analysis of shape modified γ- phase In2Se3 nanostructures photoelectrodes
G. Mohan Kumar, Jitendra Kumar, P. Ilanchezhiyan, Mosae Selvakumar Paulraj, H. C. Jeon, Deuk Young Kim, Tae Won Kang
Abstract
Controlled synthesis of inorganic nanomaterials with various morphologies and shape is essential to the development of nanomaterials based functional devices. Herein, γ-In2Se3 nanostructures such as nanoparticles, nanocubes and clustered nanoflakes have been successfully synthesized via hot injection method with oleylamine (OLAM)/oleic acid (OA)/1-octadecene (1-ODE). X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy and UV–vis spectroscopy have been employed to characterize the microstructural and optical properties of γ-In2Se3 nanoparticles, nanocubes, and clustered nanoflakes. Mott-Schottky analysis revealed that γ-In2Se3 nanoflakes show higher carrier density compared to that of nanoparticles and nanocubes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis (Nyquist and Bode plots) were used to understand the charge-transfer kinetics of γ-In2Se3. It was found that the γ-In2Se3 clustered nanoflakes had superior photoelectrochemical activity over nanocubes and nanoparticles, which is attributed to stronger absorption properties and specific clustered morphology. The results highlight that γ-In2Se3 clustered nanoflakes could be a promising candidate as photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications.