Simultaneously Efficient Solar Light Harvesting and Charge Transfer of Hollow Octahedral Cu2S/CdS p–n Heterostructures for Remarkable Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

• DOI: 10.1007/s12209-021-00291-x
• Publication Date: 2021-05-21T12:02:41Z
• Authors: Yanting Zhang; Lei Ran; Zhuwei Li; Panlong Zhai; Bo Zhang; Zhaozhong Fan; Chen Wang; Xiaomeng Zhang; Jungang Hou; Licheng Sun
• Keywords: Photocatalytic water splitting; Cadmium sulfide; Sulfidation; Visible spectrum

Abstract Solar-driven water splitting is a promising alternative to industrial hydrogen production. This study reports an elaborate design and synthesis of the integration cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots cuprous (Cu 2 S) nanosheets as three-dimensional (3D) hollow octahedral Cu S/CdS p–n heterostructured architectures by versatile template one-pot sulfidation strategy. 3D hierarchical nanostructures can strengthen multiple reflections solar light provide large specific surface area abundant reaction sites for photocatalytic splitting. Owing construction heterostructure ideal catalytic model with highly matched band alignment at interfaces, emerging internal electric field facilitate space separation transfer photoexcited charges between CdS S also enhance charge dynamics prolong lifetimes. Notably, unique deliver largely enhanced visible-light-driven generation rate 4.76 mmol/(g·h), which nearly 8.5 476 times larger than that pristine catalysts, respectively. work not only paves way rational fabrication photocatalysts but clarifies crucial role in photocatalysis energy conversion.