Ultrahigh photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of coupled 1D CdS/1T-phase dominated 2D WS2 nanoheterojunctions

Abstract

Solar-powered photocatalytic hydrogen production from water using semiconductors provides an eco-friendly and promising approach for converting solar energy into hydrogen fuel. Bulk semiconductors generally suffer from certain limitations, such as poor visible-light utilization, rapid recombination of charge carriers, and low catalytic capability. The key challenge is to develop visible-light-driven heterojunction photocatalysts that are stable and highly active during the water splitting process. Here, we demonstrate the integration of one-dimensional (1D) CdS nanorods with two-dimensional (2D) 1T-phase dominated WS2 nanosheets for constructing mixed-dimensional heterojunctions for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The resulting 1D CdS/2D WS2 nanoheterojunction exhibited an ultrahigh hydrogen-evolution activity of ∼70 mmol·g−1·h−1 that was visible to the naked eye, as well as long-term stability under visible light illumination. The results reveal that the synergy of hybrid nanoarchitectures and intimate interfacial contact between the 1D CdS nanorods and 1T-phase dominated 2D WS2 nanosheets facilitates charge carrier transport, which is beneficial for achieving superior hydrogen evolution.