Unraveling Photoexcited Charge Transfer Pathway and Process of CdS/Graphene Nanoribbon Composites toward Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. Issue 34 (1st July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xia, Yang; Cheng, Bei; Fan, Jiajie; Yu, Jiaguo; Liu, Gang
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 15:Issue 34(2019)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-07-01
• Subjects: CdS/graphene nanoribbon composites -- hydrogen evolution -- in situ irradiated X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ISI‐XPS) -- Kelvin probe -- photocatalysis; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201902459
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract: Converting solar energy into chemical fuels is increasingly receiving a great deal of attention. In this work, CdS nanoparticles (NPs) are solvothermally anchored onto graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) that are longitudinally unzipped from multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The as‐synthesized CdS/GNR nanocomposites with recyclability present GNR content‐dependent activity in visible‐light‐driven hydrogen evolution from water splitting. In a range of 1–10 wt% GNRs, the CdS/GNR composites with 2 wt% GNRs achieves the greatest hydrogen evolution rate of 1.89 mmol h −1 g −1 . The corresponding apparent quantum efficiency is 19.3%, which is ≈3.7 times higher than that of pristine CdS NPs. To elucidate the underlying photocatalytic mechanism, a systematic characterization, including in situ irradiated X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Kelvin probe measurements, is performed. In particular, the interfacial charge transfer pathway and process from CdS NPs to GNRs is revealed. This work may open avenues to fabricate GNR‐based nanocomposites for solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion and beyond. Abstract : The charge transfer pathway and process of CdS/graphene nanoribbon composites with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution were revealed by in situ irradiated X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Kelvin probe measurements.