Ultrafine MoS2/Sb2S3 Nanorod Type‐II Heterojunction for Hydrogen Production under Simulated Sunlight

Abstract

AbstractTransition metal sulfides (TMSs) have been widely used as photocatalytic materials in view of the merits of broadband light harvesting and low work function. However, the photocorrosion generally leads to the unstable photoactivity. Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) is a TMS semiconductor with prominent structural stability due to its large‐size microstructure. However, the slow body‐to‐surface carriers’ migration dramatically hinders its application in photocatalysis field. Herein, to gain a stable TMS‐based photocatalyst with high photoactivity for hydrogen production, the ultrafine MoS2 served as cocatalyst is grown in situ on the surface of Sb2S3 nanorods to form a type‐II heterostructured catalyst via a green hydrothermal procedure. In view of the narrow bandgap feature of both materials, the as‐prepared heterostructured catalyst possesses prominent broadband‐light harvesting. Owing to the synergistic promotion of built‐in electric field, the photocarriers’ migration in depletion region is significantly speeded up so that their recombination is effectively hindered, thereby this novel catalyst possesses 34.9‐fold and 11.7‐fold higher hydrogen evolution reaction photoactivity than that of bare Sb2S3 and MoS2 under simulated sunlight irradiation. On account of the formation of Mo (MoS2)‐S (Sb2S3) and Sb (Sb2S3)‐S (MoS2) coordination interactions in heterointerface, highly enhanced photostability is presented even being handled during long‐term irradiation. This study provides an insight for gaining a stable TMS‐based photocatalyst with high‐performance.