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

Yanting Zhang; Lei Ran; Zhuwei Li; Panlong Zhai; Bo Zhang; Zhaozhong Fan; Chen Wang; Xiaomeng Zhang; Jungang Hou; Licheng Sun

doi:10.1007/s12209-021-00291-x

Transactions of Tianjin University ›› 2021, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (4) : 348 -357. DOI: 10.1007/s12209-021-00291-x

Research Article

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

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¹ State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 116024, Dalian, China

² Center of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels, School of Science, Westlake University, 310024, Hangzhou, China

³ Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044, Stockholm, Sweden

^j jhou@dlut.edu.cn

^k lichengs@kth.se

Jungang Hou is a full professor in Dalian University of Technology. He received his PhD degree (2010) from Tianjin University. He joined the Faculty of University of Science and Technology Beijing and was promoted to associate professor in 2013. He worked in Tohoku University as a fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science from 2014 to 2015. His recent research interests focus on the development of photocatalysts and electrocatalysts, photocatalytic and electrocatalytic water splitting, CO₂/N₂ conversion to valuable chemicals, and synthesis and applications of nanostructured materials.

Licheng Sun received his PhD degree in 1990 from Dalian University of Technology. He went to Germany as a postdoc at Max-Planck-Institut für Strahlenchemie with Dr. Helmut Görner (1992–1993) and then as an Alexander von Humboldt fellow at Freie Universität Berlin (1993–1995) with Prof. Harry Kurreck. He moved to the KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, in 1995 and became an assistant professor in 1997, an associate professor in 1999 (at Stockholm University), and a full professor in 2004 (KTH). He is now a chair professor and the head of Centers of Artificial Photosynthesis for Solar Fuels at Westlake University. His research interests cover artificial photosynthesis, molecular catalysts for water oxidation and hydrogen generation, functional devices for total water splitting, and solar cells.

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Abstract

Solar-driven water splitting is a promising alternative to industrial hydrogen production. This study reports an elaborate design and synthesis of the integration of cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots and cuprous sulfide (Cu₂S) nanosheets as three-dimensional (3D) hollow octahedral Cu₂S/CdS p–n heterostructured architectures by a versatile template and one-pot sulfidation strategy. 3D hierarchical hollow nanostructures can strengthen multiple reflections of solar light and provide a large specific surface area and abundant reaction sites for photocatalytic water splitting. Owing to the construction of the p–n heterostructure as an ideal catalytic model with highly matched band alignment at Cu₂S/CdS interfaces, the emerging internal electric field can facilitate the space separation and transfer of photoexcited charges between CdS and Cu₂S and also enhance charge dynamics and prolong charge lifetimes. Notably, the unique hollow Cu₂S/CdS architectures deliver a largely enhanced visible-light-driven hydrogen generation rate of 4.76 mmol/(g·h), which is nearly 8.5 and 476 times larger than that of pristine CdS and Cu₂S catalysts, respectively. This work not only paves the way for the rational design and fabrication of hollow photocatalysts but also clarifies the crucial role of unique heterostructure in photocatalysis for solar energy conversion.

Keywords

Hollow octahedrons / P–n heterostructure / Charge separation / Photocatalytic water splitting

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Yanting Zhang, Lei Ran, Zhuwei Li, Panlong Zhai, Bo Zhang, Zhaozhong Fan, Chen Wang, Xiaomeng Zhang, Jungang Hou, Licheng Sun. Simultaneously Efficient Solar Light Harvesting and Charge Transfer of Hollow Octahedral Cu₂S/CdS p–n Heterostructures for Remarkable Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation. Transactions of Tianjin University, 2021, 27(4): 348-357 DOI:10.1007/s12209-021-00291-x

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