Transition Metal Chalcogenides Quantum Dots: Emerging Building Blocks toward Solar-to-Hydrogen Conversion

Abstract

Transition metal chalcogenides quantum dots (TMCs QDs) nanocrystals are featured by large absorption coefficient, abundant active sites, and quantum confinement effect, rendering them emerging light-harvesting antennas for solar energy conversion. Although diverse TMCs QDs-based photosystems have been explored for multifarious photoredox catalysis, an elaborate and comprehensive summary on TMCs QDs-based solar-to-hydrogen conversion has been rarely reviewed. In this Review, we elucidate the fundamental physicochemical properties of TMCs QDs (e.g., CdS QDs, CdSe QDs, CdTe QDs, etc.) currently being extensively investigated along with synthesis methodologies. Modification strategies for boosting photocatalytic water splitting performances of TMCs QDs, such as cocatalyst loading, heterojunction engineering, element doping, and plasmonic metal photosensitization, are then specifically introduced. Besides, we present detailed information on the latest advances on the photocatalytic hydrogen generation involving sacrificial reagents, Z-scheme photosystems, one-step excitation photosystems for overall water splitting, and photosensitizers endowed by molecular catalysts, metal–organic frameworks, or conjugated polymers. Finally, future outlook and challenge on the development of TMCs QDs-dominated photocatalysis are highlighted. It is anticipated that our Review would inspire ongoing interest in unleashing the great potential of TMCs QDs nanocrystals for solar energy conversion.