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Wang Z, Sun X, Zhao H, Yang S, Xie X, Shi L, Dong B, Xia C, Cao L. Selective cation exchange in colloidal Janus-type Cu 2-xS/CuInS 2 heteronanorods for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen production. J Colloid Interface Sci 2025; 695:137768. [PMID: 40344728 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2025.137768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2025] [Revised: 04/29/2025] [Accepted: 04/30/2025] [Indexed: 05/11/2025]
Abstract
Ideal photocatalysis generally exhibits several key characteristics, including broad-spectrum light absorption, efficient electron-hole separation and transfer, excellent photocatalytic activity, and appropriate band alignment. To date, strategies for enhancing photocatalytic performance focus on surface modification, introduction of co-catalyst or doping, and heterostructure engineering. In this work, we aim to improve the photocatalytic activity of Cu2-xS by constructing heteronanostructure combined with ion doping. Through a two-step seeded-growth method, we successfully synthesized Janus-type Cu2-xS/CuInS2 heteronanorods with well-defined architectures for hydrogen production from solar water splitting. Three types of cations (Cd2+, Zn2+, Ga3+) were selected as dopants to further enhance the photocatalytic activity. Intriguingly, those foreign cations exhibit distinct doping behaviors in Janus-type heteronanorods, by either diffusing into Cu2-xS tips, CuInS2 tails, or across the whole nanorods. These selective doping behaviors originate from the miscibility of foreign cations with the parent nanocrystals and the lattice strain of possible products with respect to the template heteronanorods. The incorporation of foreign cations effectively alters the band alignment of the Cu2-xS/CuInS2 heteronanorods, thereby improving their photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance. The Cd-Cu2-xS/CuInS2 heteronanorods exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation, with a hydrogen evolution rate of 1265.7 µmol·h-1·g-1, which is 83 times higher than that of the original Cu2-xS/CuInS2. This work provides new insights into the selective doping behavior in copper chalcogenide nanomaterials and opens up pathways for enhancing the hydrogen evolution activity of other related multicomponent photocatalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, No. 1299, Sansha Road, Huangdao District, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Xu Sun
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, No. 1299, Sansha Road, Huangdao District, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Hongyu Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, No. 1299, Sansha Road, Huangdao District, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Sen Yang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, No. 1299, Sansha Road, Huangdao District, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Xiaobin Xie
- Analytical & Testing Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| | - Liang Shi
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Zhengzhou Road 53, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Bohua Dong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, No. 1299, Sansha Road, Huangdao District, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Chenghui Xia
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, No. 1299, Sansha Road, Huangdao District, Qingdao 266000, China.
| | - Lixin Cao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, No. 1299, Sansha Road, Huangdao District, Qingdao 266000, China.
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Xu P, Jin K, Huang J, Yan Z, Fu L, Xu B. Solution-synthesized nanostructured materials with high thermoelectric performance. NANOSCALE 2025; 17:10531-10556. [PMID: 40197664 DOI: 10.1039/d5nr00333d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2025]
Abstract
Facing the growing scarcity of traditional fossil fuels and the inefficiency of energy utilization, thermoelectric materials have garnered increasing attention due to their ability to convert between electrical and thermal energy. However, the strong coupling between thermoelectric parameters presents a significant challenge for simultaneously reducing thermal conductivity and maintaining electrical performance in bulk materials. The solution-based synthesis of nanostructured materials offers a promising approach for the decoupling regulation of electronic and phonon transport properties by regulating grain size and morphology, second phases, and surface ligands. The strategies for optimizing thermoelectric performance outlined above are founded upon several pivotal elements: the enhancement of grain boundary effects, precise regulation of grain stacking, utilization of heterogeneous interface effects, and generation of metastable phases and novel structural configurations facilitated by ligand management approaches. We have also comprehensively addressed the challenges associated with solution-based synthesis, particularly material oxidation and grain coarsening, along with their corresponding mitigation strategies. In addition, machine learning can effectively accelerate solution synthesis and the exploration of composite materials. This review summarizes and generalizes the research related to these strategies, providing recommendations for future research directions based on observed trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
| | - Kangpeng Jin
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
| | - Jie Huang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
| | - Zhenhua Yan
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Renewable Energy Conversion and Storage Center (RECAST), Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Liangwei Fu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
| | - Biao Xu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
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Nwaji N, Kang H, Bayissa Gicha B, Osial M, Vapaavuori J, Lee J, Giersig M. A Stable Perovskite Sensitized Photonic Crystal P-N Junction with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production. CHEMSUSCHEM 2024; 17:e202400395. [PMID: 38819589 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202400395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
The slow photon effect in inverse opal photonic crystals represents a promising approach to manipulate the interactions between light and matter through the design of material structures. This study introduces a novel ordered inverse opal photonic crystal (IOPC) sensitized with perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), demonstrating its efficacy for efficient visible-light-driven H2 generation via water splitting. The rational structural design contributes to enhanced light harvesting. The sensitization of the IOPC with PQDs improves optical response performance and enhances photocatalytic H2 generation under visible light irradiation compared to the IOPC alone. The designed photoanode exhibits a photocurrent density of 3.42 mA cm-2 at 1.23 V vs RHE. This work advances the rational design of visible light-responsive photocatalytic heterostructure materials based on wide band gap metal oxides for photoelectrochemical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Njemuwa Nwaji
- Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hyojin Kang
- Department Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea
| | - Birhanu Bayissa Gicha
- Institute of Materials Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea
| | - Magdalena Osial
- Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jaana Vapaavuori
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Kemistintie 1, Espoo, 02150, Finland
| | - Jaebeom Lee
- Department Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea
- Institute of Materials Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, South Korea
| | - Michael Giersig
- Institute of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
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Lian Z, Qu M, Xiao H, Wang L, Wu H, Zi J, Wang W, Li H. Direct Observation of Z-Scheme Route in Cu 31S 16/Zn xCd 1-xS Heteronanoplates for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2400611. [PMID: 38488704 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
Although photocatalytic hydrogen production from water holds great potential as a renewable and sustainable energy alternative, the practical application of the technology demands cost-effective, simple photocatalytic systems with high efficiency in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, the synthesis and characterization of Cu31S16/ZnxCd1-xS heterostructured nanoplates (Cu31S16/ZnCdS HNPs) as a high photocatalytic system are reported. The cost-effective, hierarchical structures are easily prepared using the Cu31S16 NPs as the seed by the epitaxial growth of the ZnCdS nanocrystals (NCs). The Cu31S16/ZnCdS without the noble metal cocatalyst exhibits a high HER rate of 61.7 mmol g-1 h-1, which is 8,014 and 17 times higher than that of Cu31S16 and ZnCdS, respectively, under visible light irradiation. The apparent quantum yield (AQY) of Cu31S16/ZnCdS reaches 67.9% at 400 nm with the highest value so far in the reported ZnCdS-based photocatalysts. The excellent activity and stability of the Cu31S16/ZnCdS are attributed to the formation of a strong internal electric field (IEF) and the Z-scheme pathway. The comprehensive experiments and theoretical calculations provide the direct evidences of the Z-scheme route. This work may offer a way for the design and development of efficient photocatalysts to achieve solar-to-chemical energy conversion at a practically useful level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zichao Lian
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, P. R. China
| | - Minghan Qu
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, P. R. China
| | - Han Xiao
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, P. R. China
| | - Lihui Wang
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, P. R. China
| | - Hanxiang Wu
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, P. R. China
| | - Jiangzhi Zi
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, P. R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology and Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Hexing Li
- School of Materials and Chemistry, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200093, P. R. China
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Sun W, Pang H, Khan SU, Yang R, Wu Q, Ma H, Au CM, Sun W, Wang X, Yang G, Yu WY. Highly Efficient Photocatalysts: Polyoxometalate Synthons Enable Tailored CdS-MoS 2 Morphologies and Enhanced H 2 Evolution. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37450308 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c04139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The development of photocatalysts toward highly efficient H2 evolution reactions is a feasible strategy to achieve the effective conversion of solar energy and meet the increasing demand for new energy. To this end, we prepared two different CdS-MoS2 photocatalysts with unique morphologies ranging from hexagonal prisms to tetragonal nanotubes by carefully tuning polyoxometalate synthons. These two photocatalysts, namely, CdS-MoS2-1 and CdS-MoS2-2, both exhibited remarkable photocatalytic efficiency in H2 generation, among which CdS-MoS2-2 showed superior performance. In fact, the best catalytic hydrogen desorption rate of CdS-MoS2-2 is as high as 1815.5 μmol g-1 h-1. Such performance is superior to twice that of single CdS and almost four times that of pure MoS2. This obvious enhancement can be accredited to the highly open nanotube morphology and highly dispersed heterometallic composition of CdS-MoS2-2, which represents an excellent example of the highest noble-metal-free H2 evolution photocatalysts reported so far. Taken together, these findings suggest that the development of highly dispersed heterometallic catalysts is an auspicious route to realize highly efficient conversion of solar energy and that CdS-MoS2-2 represents a major advance in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weize Sun
- School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, P. R. China
| | - Haijun Pang
- School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, P. R. China
| | - Shifa Ullah Khan
- The Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Okara, Renala Campus, Okara, Punjab 56300, Pakistan
| | - Ruoru Yang
- School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, P. R. China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, Kunming University, Kunming, Yunnan 650214, China
| | - Huiyuan Ma
- School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, P. R. China
| | - Chi-Ming Au
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
| | - Wenlong Sun
- Institute of Zhejiang University─Quzhou, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Xinming Wang
- School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, P. R. China
| | - Guixin Yang
- School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150040, P. R. China
| | - Wing-Yiu Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong
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Jawale N, Arbuj S, Umarji G, Shinde M, Kale B, Rane S. Ni loaded SnS 2 hexagonal nanosheets for photocatalytic hydrogen generation via water splitting. RSC Adv 2023; 13:2418-2426. [PMID: 36741188 PMCID: PMC9841975 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra07954b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Herein we have prepared the Ni-decorated SnS2 nanosheets with varying concentrations of Ni from 1 to 10 mol% (1, 2.5, 5, and 10 mol%) and studied their various physicochemical and photocatalytic properties. The chemical reduction technique was utilized to load the Ni nanoparticles on SnS2 nanosheets. The synthesized Ni decorated SnS2 (denoted as Ni-SnS2) was characterized using different spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM). XRD revealed the formation of the highly crystalline hexagonal phase of SnS2 but for nickel loading there is no additional peak observed. Further, the as-prepared Ni-SnS2 nano-photocatalyst shows absorption behaviour in the visible region, and photoluminescence spectra of the Ni-SnS2 nanostructures show band edge emission centred at 524 nm, and the peak intensity decreases with Ni loading. The FE-SEM and FE-TEM confirm the formation of hexagonal sheets having evenly distributed Ni nanoparticles of size ∼5-10 nm. BET surface area analysis was observed to be enhanced with Ni loading. The photocatalytic performance of the prepared Ni-SnS2 nanosheets was evaluated for hydrogen generation via water splitting under a 400 W mercury vapour lamp. Among the prepared Ni-SnS2 nanostructures, the Ni loaded with 2.5 mol% provided the highest hydrogen production i.e., 1429.2 μmol 0.1 g-1 (% AQE 2.32) in four hours, almost 1.6 times that of pristine SnS2 i.e., 846 μmol 0.1 g-1. Furthermore, the photocatalytic performance of the catalyst is also correlated with the photoconductivity by measuring the photocurrent. The photoconductivity of the samples is revealed to be stable and the conductivity of 2.5 mol% Ni-SnS2 is higher i.e. 20 times that of other Ni-SnS2 and pristine SnS2 catalysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niteen Jawale
- Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) Off Pashan Road, Panchawati Pune-411008 Maharashtra India +912025898180 +912025899273
| | - Sudhir Arbuj
- Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) Off Pashan Road, Panchawati Pune-411008 Maharashtra India +912025898180 +912025899273
| | - Govind Umarji
- Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) Off Pashan Road, Panchawati Pune-411008 Maharashtra India +912025898180 +912025899273
| | - Manish Shinde
- Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) Off Pashan Road, Panchawati Pune-411008 Maharashtra India +912025898180 +912025899273
| | - Bharat Kale
- Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) Off Pashan Road, Panchawati Pune-411008 Maharashtra India +912025898180 +912025899273
| | - Sunit Rane
- Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET) Off Pashan Road, Panchawati Pune-411008 Maharashtra India +912025898180 +912025899273
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Nie M, Zhou C, Feng W, Xin C, Yu X, Li Q. Hierarchical ZnS layers-coated Ti3+-TiO2 nanostructures for boosted visible-light photocatalytic norfloxacin degradation. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.130814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Gautam A, Sk S, Pal U. Recent advances in solution assisted synthesis of transition metal chalcogenides for photo-electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:20638-20673. [PMID: 36047908 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp02089k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogen evolution from water splitting is considered to be an important renewable clean energy source and alternative to fossil fuels for future energy sustainability. Photocatalytic and electrocatalytic water splitting is considered to be an effective method for the sustainable production of clean energy, H2. This perspective especially emphasizes research advances in the solution-assisted synthesis of transition metal chalcogenides for both photo and electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution applications. Transition metal chalcogenides (CdS, MoS2, WS2, TiS2, TaS2, ReS2, MoSe2, and WSe2) have received intensified research interest over the past two decades on account of their unique properties and great potential across a wide range of applications. The photocatalytic activity of transition metal chalcogenides can further be improved by elemental doping, heterojunction formation with noble metals (Au, Pt, etc.), non-chalcogenides (MoS2, In2S3, NiS1-X), morphological tuning, through various solution-assisted synthesis processes, including liquid-phase exfoliation, heat-up, hot-injection methods, hydrothermal/solvothermal routes and template-mediated synthesis processes. In this review we will discuss recent developments in transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs), the role of TMCs for hydrogen production and various strategies for surface functionalization to increase their activity, different synthesis methods, and prospects of TMCs for hydrogen evolution. We have included a brief discussion on the effect of surface hydrogen binding energy and Gibbs free energy change for HER in electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Gautam
- Department of Energy & Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad-500007, India. .,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India
| | - Saddam Sk
- Department of Energy & Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad-500007, India. .,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India
| | - Ujjwal Pal
- Department of Energy & Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad-500007, India. .,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad-201002, India
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