Synergistically promoted charge separation/transfer in a ZnO nanosheet photoanode the incorporation of multifunctional 3DrGO.

Herein, we report a robust strategy to markedly promote charge separation and transfer electrodepositing ZnO nanosheets into a cross-linked porous three-dimensional reduced graphene oxide (3DrGO) network structure to form a ZnO/3DrGO photoanode. In addition to the high electrical conductivity and 3D porous architecture, the photothermal effect of 3DrGO activated by a near-infrared (NIR) laser or NIR light of solar radiation can be used to increase the temperature of the photoanodes , further enhancing the charge transfer efficiency of ZnO nanosheets. With the synergistic effect of 3DrGO, the photocurrent density of the ZnO/3DrGO photoanode (2.03 mA cm) is about three times higher than that of the pure ZnO photoanode (0.51 mA cm) at 1.23 V reversible reference electrode (V). This work provides an effective strategy for improving the PEC water splitting performance of photoanodes the incorporation of multifunctional 3D porous architecture rGO.