Coherent nanointerface between light-harvesting and catalytic transition metal sulfides for efficient photochemical conversion

Creating atomically coherent interfaces can sharpen the physiochemical properties and functionalities of nanomaterials for efficient energy conversion via manipulating the charge flow. While coherent interfaces can be built between transition metal dichalcogenides with structural similarities and weak interlayer van der Waals interactions, it remains challenging to realize interfacial coherency with more generic transition metal chalcogenides via cost-effective wet chemical routes. Here we establish a coherent CdS(010)|CoS(010) interface via insitu heteroepitaxial growth of CoS nanoflakes onto CdS nanowires. The uniform and oriented distribution of CoS nanoflakes on the CdS nanowires features an interesting leaves-on-a-branch nano-architecture with coherent interface and well-aligned energy levels, allowing efficient separation of photoexcited charge carriers. Combined with the outstanding proton reduction kinetics of the CoS nanoleaves, striking photochemical solar-tohydrogen conversion performance can be obtained. Our findings provide a viable design strategy of nanojunctions with atomic level coherency and great application prospect in catalysis, nanoelectronics and many others.

Automated summary

A coherent CdS(010)|CoS(010) interface was achieved by growing CoS nanoflakes onto CdS nanowires, resulting in efficient photoexcited charge carrier separation and photochemical solar-to-hydrogen conversion. This discovery provides a feasible design strategy for nanojunctions with atomic level coherency, offering great application prospects in catalysis, nanoelectronics, and more.