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Multidimensional CdS nanowire/CdIn2S4 nanosheet heterostructure for photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical applications

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Abstract

Nanomaterial shapes can have profound effects on material properties, and therefore offer an efficient way to improve the performances of designed materials and devices. The rational fabrication of multidimensional architectures such as one dimensional (1D)–two dimensional (2D) hybrid nanomaterials can integrate the merits of individual components and provide enhanced functionality. However, it is still very challenging to fabricate 1D/2D architectures because of the different growth mechanisms of the nanostructures. Here, we present a new solvent-mediated, surface reaction-driven growth route for synthesis of CdS nanowire (NW)/CdIn2S4 nanosheet (NS) 1D/2D architectures. The as-obtained CdS NW/CdIn2S4 NS structures exhibit much higher visible-light-responsive photocatalytic activities for water splitting than the individual components. The CdS NW/CdIn2S4 NS heterostructure was further fabricated into photoelectrodes, which achieved a considerable photocurrent density of 2.85 mA·cm−2 at 0 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) without use of any co-catalysts. This represents one of the best results from a CdS-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. Both the multidimensional nature and type II band alignment of the 1D/2D CdS/CdIn2S4 heterostructure contribute to the enhanced photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical activity. The present work not only provides a new strategy for designing multidimensional 1D/2D heterostructures, but also documents the development of highly efficient energy conversion catalysts.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51372173, 21673160, and 51420105002), Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang for Distinguished Young Scholars (No. LR16B010002), Opening Project of State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure (No. SKL201409SIC), and startup funds of Syracuse University.

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  1. These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Carbon Materials, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325027, China

    Ting Wang, Yuanyuan Chai, Dekun Ma, Wei Chen & Shaoming Huang

  2. Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, 13244, USA

    Weiwei Zheng

  3. School of Materials and Energy, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Shaoming Huang

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  1. Ting Wang
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  2. Yuanyuan Chai
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  3. Dekun Ma
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  4. Wei Chen
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Correspondence to Dekun Ma, Weiwei Zheng or Shaoming Huang.

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Multidimensional CdS nanowire/CdIn2S4 nanosheet heterostructure for photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical applications

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Wang, T., Chai, Y., Ma, D. et al. Multidimensional CdS nanowire/CdIn2S4 nanosheet heterostructure for photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical applications. Nano Res. 10, 2699–2711 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-017-1473-y

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