Heterostructure of 1D Ta3N5 Nanorod/BaTaO2N Nanoparticle Fabricated by a One-Step Ammonia Thermal Route for Remarkably Promoted Solar Hydrogen Production

Heterostructures are widely fabricated for promotion of photogenerated charge separation and solar cell/fuel production. (Oxy)nitrides are extremely promising for solar energy conversion, but the fabrication of heterostructures based on nitrogen-containing semiconductors is still challenging. Here, a simple ammonia thermal synthesis of a heterostructure (denoted as Ta3N5/BTON) composed of 1D Ta3N5 nanorods and BaTaO2N (BTON) nanoparticles (0D), which is demonstrated to result in a remarkable increase in photogenerated charge separation and solar hydrogen production from water, is introduced. As analyzed and discussed, the Ta3N5/BTON heterostructure is type II and tends to create intimate interfaces between the 1D nanorods and 0D nanoparticles. The 1D Ta3N5 nanorods are demonstrated to transfer electrons along the rod orientation direction. Furthermore, the intimate interfaces of the heterostructure are believed to originate from the similar Ta-based octahedron units of Ta3N5 and BTON. All of the above features are expected to integrally endow increased photoinduced charge separation and one order of magnitude higher solar overall water splitting activity with respect to counterpart systems. These results may open a new avenue to fabricate heterostructures on the basis of nitrogen-containing semiconductors that is extremely promising for solar energy conversion.