Volume 62, Issue 35 e202307808
Communication

Regulation of d-Band Centers in Localized CdS Homojunctions through Facet Control for Improved Photocatalytic Water Splitting

Dr. Jie Wang

Dr. Jie Wang

School of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Fenghua Road 818, Ningbo City, 330013 P. R. China

Search for more papers by this author
Dr. Yiqi Zhang

Dr. Yiqi Zhang

School of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Fenghua Road 818, Ningbo City, 330013 P. R. China

Search for more papers by this author
Prof. Shujuan Jiang

Corresponding Author

Prof. Shujuan Jiang

School of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Fenghua Road 818, Ningbo City, 330013 P. R. China

Search for more papers by this author
Prof. Chuanzhi Sun

Corresponding Author

Prof. Chuanzhi Sun

College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Shandong Normal University, Wenhua East Road 88, Jinan City, 250014 P. R. China

Search for more papers by this author
Prof. Shaoqing Song

Corresponding Author

Prof. Shaoqing Song

School of New Energy, Ningbo University of Technology, Binhai Second Road 769, Ningbo City, 330013 P. R. China

Search for more papers by this author
First published: 13 July 2023
Citations: 16

Graphical Abstract

The d-band center of localized CdS homojunctions has been regulated by high and low index facet control for chemically adsorbing and activating key intermediates in water overall splitting reaction. Photoexcited electrons and holes are separately transferred to reductive (002) and oxidative (110) facets within localized field to dehydrogenate *-OH and couple *-O for hydrogen (H2) and oxygen evolution at a solar-to-H2 efficiency of 2.20 %.

Abstract

The accelerated kinetic behaviour of charge carrier transfer and its unhindered surface reaction dynamic process involving oxygenated-intermediate activation and conversion are urgently required in photocatalytic water (H2O) overall splitting, which has not been nevertheless resolved yet. Herein, localized CdS homojunctions with optimal collocation of high and low index facets to regulate d-band center for chemically adsorbing and activating key intermediates (*-OH and *-O) have been achieved in H2O overall splitting into hydrogen. Density functional theory, hall effect, and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy confirm that, electrons and holes are kinetically transferred to reductive high index facet (002) and oxidative low index facet (110) of the localized CdS homojunction induced by facet Fermi level difference to dehydrogenate *-OH and couple *-O for hydrogen and oxygen evolution, respectively, along with a solar conversion into hydrogen (STH) of 2.20 % by Air Mass 1.5 Global filter irradiation. These findings contribute to solving the kinetic bottleneck issues of photocatalytic H2O splitting, which will further enhance STH.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.