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Zinc oxide nano-sheets (ZNS) loaded with Zeolitic Imidazole Framework 8 (ZIF8) nanocrystals, i.e. (ZNS@ZIF8) thin films, were successfully synthesized using electrodeposition and facile chemical bath deposition (CBD) for photoelectrochemical (PEC) splitting of water. The formation of ZNS nano-sheets and ZIF8 nano-crystals has been confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), low angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), micro-Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis. PEC activity of ZNS@ZIF8 photoanodes was evaluated using the linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) technique, and the photocurrent density is significantly enhanced when ZNS are decorated with ZIF8 nanocrystals. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) revealed that ZNS@ZIF8 had low charge transfer resistance compared to pristine ZNS counterparts. This led to considerably improved PEC performance of ZNS@ZIF8. Mott–Schottky (M–S) analysis of ZNS and ZNS@ZIF8 revealed a shift of flat band potential for the ZNS and ZNS@ZIF8 photoanodes, respectively. The shift of flat band potential indicates a clear shift in the Fermi level towards the conduction band, leading to an efficient charge transfer process across the electrolyte. The carrier density of ZNS and ZNS@ZIF8 photoanodes increases from 3.67 × 1019 cm−3 to 4.11 × 1020 cm−3. The enhanced applied bias photon conversion efficiency (ABPE) of ZNS@ZIF8 photoanodes suggests that ZNS@ZIF8 can be a prospective candidate for PEC and optoelectronic applications.

Herein, we report the synthesis of highly stable, Pb-free bismuth iodide (BiI3 or BI), stoichiometric methylammonium bismuth iodide [(CH3NH3)3Bi2I9 or MA3Bi2I9 or s-MBI] and non-stoichiometric methylammonium bismuth iodide [(CH3NH3)2BiI5 or MA2BiI5 or Ns-MBI] perovskite thin films for photodetector applications. These films are synthesized at room temperature by a single step solution process spin coating method. The structural, optical, and morphological properties of these films were investigated using different characterization techniques such as XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FE-SEM, UV-Visible spectroscopy, etc. Formation of BI, s-MBI and Ns-MBI thin films is confirmed by XRD and Raman spectroscopy measurements. XRD analysis reveals that BI has a hexagonal crystal structure and a P63/mmc hexagonal space group for s-MBI and Ns-MBI. The optical properties of BI thin films show a high absorption coefficient (∼104 cm−1) and a band gap of ∼1.74 eV. Similarly, s-MBI films have a high absorption coefficient (∼103 cm−1) and an indirect band gap of ∼1.8 eV. Moving from s-MBI to Ns-MBI, the value of absorption coefficient is ∼103 cm−1 and the band gap corresponds to ∼2 eV. Finally, photodetectors based on the synthesized BI, s-MBI and Ns-MBI perovskites have been directly fabricated on FTO substrates. All photodetectors exhibited highly stable photo-switching behaviour along with excellent photoresponsivity and detectivity, with a fast response and recovery time. Our work demonstrates that Pb-free BI, s-MBI and Ns-MBI perovskites have great potential in the future for realizing stable photodetectors.