Cu-Doped InP/ZnS Core/Shell Quantum Dots:Charge Carrier Dynamics and Solar Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Photocatalytic hydrogen production is a clean and sustainable method to convert solar energy into chemical fuel. Among the different structural types of photocatalysts, colloidal quantum dots (QDs) with narrow bandgap and tunable band structure have demonstrated particularly effective utility in solar hydrogen production. In the present study, InP/ZnS core/shell QDs were prepared and employed as photocatalyst backbone for hydrogen production. By introducing Cu dopants into the ZnS shell of InP/ZnS, the interfacial charge dynamics between InP and ZnS can be manipulated to achieve an activity optimization for solar hydrogen production. Time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy was utilized to study the quantitative effect of Cu dopants on the interfacial charge dynamics of the samples. This work provides a fresh hint to manipulate the charge transfer dynamics of QDs by means of dopant introduction towards highly efficient solar hydrogen production.