Das, S., Ng, L. S., Pereira, V., Zhang, J., Ahn, Y., & Lee, H. K. (2025). Employing Dilute Bimetallic Dispersion on Nano‐Photocatalysts for Enhanced Green Hydrogen Production Under Visible Light. Small, 21(26). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202501572
Abstract:
Photocatalytic water splitting offers a sustainable pathway for producing clean H2 fuel. However, conventional heterojunction photocatalysts face severe challenges, including diminished redox potential due to complex band alignments, interfacial defects accelerating charge recombination, and long charge-carrier paths reducing photocarrier and material utilization. Here, we achieve efficient, visible-light-driven H2 generation by employing a dilute bimetallic dispersion on a metal chalcogenide nano-photocatalyst. Using CdS nanorod as a model photocatalyst, we strategically position Cu in lattice sites and Co in interstitial locations to preserve CdS's strong optical properties and redox potential. In this design, Cu species serve as electron sinks to drive H2 evolution, while the Co2+/Co3+ couple functions as a redox shuttle to efficiently channel photogenerated holes to the reactant. This optimized photocatalyst demonstrates a high H2 production rate of ≈52 mmol g−1 h−1, surpassing bare CdS and other emerging photocatalytic designs by >100-fold and >65-fold, respectively. Mechanistic studies highlight the roles of Cu and Co as electron and hole sinks and active redox sites, thereby facilitating directed photocarrier migration and enhanced light-to-chemical conversion. By establishing spatially distinct redox sites, this work provides a foundational framework for designing next-generation photocatalytic platforms, paving the way for sustainable energy and chemical applications using light.
License type:
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
Funding Info:
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research - Manufacturing, Trade, and Connectivity Individual Research Grant
Grant Reference no. : MTC IRG M23M6c0098
This research / project is supported by the Agency for Science, Technology and Research - Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) Young Individual Research Grant
Grant Reference no. : AME YIRG A2084c0158
This research / project is supported by the National University of Singapore - Center of Hydrogen Innovation
Grant Reference no. : CHI-P2022-05
This research / project is supported by the Nanyang Technological University - start-up grants
Grant Reference no. : start-up grants
This research / project is supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea - Basic Science Research Program
Grant Reference no. : 2020R1I1A3054816
This research / project is supported by the Ministry of Education, Singapore - Academic Research Fund Tier 1
Grant Reference no. : AcRF Tier 1 RS13/20 and RG4/21