Broad-spectrum light absorption and efficient charge transfer in plasmonic PbS/Cu2-xS/CdS polyhedral heterojunction for improved photothermal/ photocatalytic performance

Zhao, Wen-Qin1; Liu, Yang1; Zheng, Zi-Xing1; Ma, Liang1; Xiong, Kuang-Wei2; Chen, Xiang-Bai1; Wang, Qu-Quan3

2023-11-01

10.1016/j.cej.2023.146136

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL   Impact Factor & Quartile

1385-8947

1873-3212

The multidimensional structure, abilities of light-harvesting and charge-transfer, photothermal conversion of semiconductor heterojunction are very important characters for high-performance photocatalysis. However, it remains a challenge to rationally design heterojunction photocatalyst that meets the demand. Herein, plasmonic PbS/Cu2-xS/CdS polyhedral heterojunctions, which Cu2-xS and CdS nanoparticles are deposited on the 24-faceted PbS, are prepared for efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalysis for the first time. Owing to the synergistic effect of plasmonic resonance and bandgap excitations, the ternary hybrids display excellent light absorption ranging from ultraviolet to near-infrared (NIR) region. The unique polyhedral structure and rough surface of the hybrids generate a large surface area, offering abundant active sites for catalytic reaction. Importantly, the different work functions and appropriate band arrangements of the three semiconductors provide a double Z-scheme band structure, which leads to efficient charge transfer and separation driven by built-in electric fields. Moreover, the fast hot electron injection from plasmonic Cu2-xS to PbS and CdS also provides energetic electrons for photocatalysis. As a result, the polyhedral hybrids display efficient photocatalytic H2 activity (24.3 times of pure CdS) under visible light irradiation and a high apparent quantum efficiency under NIR light irradiation. Furthermore, the ternary hybrids show excellent photothermal conversion and photothermal-assisted photo-catalysis due to plasmonic heating and nonradiative relaxation. The temperature-dependent photocatalytic tests indicate that the photothermal effect has about 35% enhancement on photocatalysis. This work provides an inspiration to develop new functional materials for the field of solar-driven energy conversion.

Photocatalysis Photothermal Charge transfer Semiconductor heterojunction Light absorption

SCI

English

Corresponding

National Natural Science Foundation of China["12274379","22262013","11904270","11904332"] ; Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province[2022CFB246]

Engineering

Engineering, Environmental ; Engineering, Chemical

WOS:001082090000001

ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA

ENGINEERING

Web of Science

1.Wuhan Inst Technol, Hubei Key Lab Opt Informat & Pattern Recognit, Wuhan 430205, Peoples R China
2.East China Jiaotong Univ, Dept Phys, Nanchang 330013, Peoples R China
3.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Sch Sci, Dept Phys, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Zhao, Wen-Qin,Liu, Yang,Zheng, Zi-Xing,et al. Broad-spectrum light absorption and efficient charge transfer in plasmonic PbS/Cu2-xS/CdS polyhedral heterojunction for improved photothermal/ photocatalytic performance[J]. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL,2023,475.

Zhao, Wen-Qin.,Liu, Yang.,Zheng, Zi-Xing.,Ma, Liang.,Xiong, Kuang-Wei.,...&Wang, Qu-Quan.(2023).Broad-spectrum light absorption and efficient charge transfer in plasmonic PbS/Cu2-xS/CdS polyhedral heterojunction for improved photothermal/ photocatalytic performance.CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL,475.

Zhao, Wen-Qin,et al."Broad-spectrum light absorption and efficient charge transfer in plasmonic PbS/Cu2-xS/CdS polyhedral heterojunction for improved photothermal/ photocatalytic performance".CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL 475(2023).