Recently, Li Xiyou's group from College of Science, cooperating with researchers of Shandong University, discovered a new catalyst for hydrogen evolution from water. The related paper An efficient hydrogen evolution catalyst composed of palladium phosphorous sulphide (PdP0.33S1.67) and twin nanocrystal Zn0.5Cd0.5S solid solution with both homo- and hetero-junctions was published by Energy and Environment Science, with Li Xiyou the first corresponding author.

   ZnxCd1−xS solid solutions were excellent visible light responsive catalysts for hydrogen evolution from water in the presence of sacrificial reagents. Especially Zn0.5Cd0.5S with a twin crystal structure is the best pristine sulfide catalyst ever reported so far due to the presence of the homojunctions between the zinc blende (ZB) and wurtzite (WZ) segments, which improved the separation of the photon generated electron–hole pairs. However, a further improvement in the catalytic activities of the twin crystal Zn0.5Cd0.5S solid solution has never been reported. The work has successfully promoted the catalytic activity of the twin crystal Zn0.5Cd0.5S solid solution by depositing palladium phosphorous sulphide (PdP∼0.33S∼1.67) on the surface of twin crystal Zn0.5Cd0.5S solid solution and creating hetero-junctions between Zn0.5Cd0.5S and PdP∼0.33S∼1.67. Due to the presence of both the homo-junction and hetero-junction in this Zn0.5Cd0.5S/PdP∼0.33S∼1.67 nano-composite, the separation of photon induced electron–hole pairs has been improved and thus the catalytic activity was significantly improved. Combining of both homo- and hetero-junctions in one catalyst might be an efficient strategy towards a better photocatalyst for H2 evolution from water.

     The work has proved to be a landmark in the photolysis for water hydrogen evolution and provided a new way for catalyst design. The research was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21173136, and 91233108). 

     Energy and Environment Science is the top journal of royal society of publishing, covering all aspects of the chemical, physical and biotechnological sciences relating to energy conversion and storage, alternative fuel technologies and environmental science.  The IP of 2016 is 25.427.  

     See more about the paper: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2017/ee/c6ee02414a?page=search

     Editor: Bu Lingduo

     Source: UPC News Center