Synthesis of SnSe nanosheets by hydrothermal intercalation and exfoliation route and their photoresponse properties

Two dimensional Tin Selenide (SnSe) nanosheets (NSs) have been prepared via a facile hydrothermal intercalation and exfoliation route. Morphological test verifies high yield of SnSe NSs with good quality. Additional X-ray diffraction pattern and Raman spectra are carried out and confirm the exfoliated SnSe nanosheet is pure and well crystalized. AFM measurement, along with the SEM images and Raman shifts, reveals few-layers SnSe nanosheet has been successfully obtained after hydrothermal intercalation and exfoliation route. Photoelectrochemical tests also demonstrate the photocurrent density of SnSe NSs is greatly improved compare to that of bulk SnSe. Photocurrent density of exfoliated SnSe NSs can achieve 16 μA/cm² when the applied potential is 0.8 V, which is nearly four times higher than that of bulk SnSe. This work demonstrates that the two-dimensional SnSe NSs may have a great potential application in photovoltaic devices.