Dual interfacing with metallic cobalt boosts the electron shuttle of CdS-carbide nanoassemblies

Abstract

Harnessing accelerated interfacial redox, thus boosting charge separation, is of great importance in photocatalytic solar hydrogen generation. In effect, nanoassembling non-noble metallic phases in CdS-based systems and elucidating their role in photocatalysis hold the key to eventually boosting electron shuttle in the field. Here we combine an efficient in-situ exsoluted metallic Co0 nanoparticles on a carbides matrix (CMG) with CdS (CdS@CoCMG) for photogeneration of hydrogen. The metallic cobalt phase exhibits strong binding at the CdS-carbide dual interfaces, forming the accelerated “electron converter” mechanism validated by charge transfer kinetics and achieving two orders of magnitude faster hydrogen production (44.42 mmol g−1 h−1) relative to CdS (0.43 mmol g−1 h−1). We propose that the unique catalyst configuration enable the directional electron-relay photocatalysis via harnessing interfaces between Co0 phase, carbides, and CdS clusters, which eventually boosts the redox process and charge separation of the integrated system, leading to high H2 production rates in the suspension.