Solar‐Driven Hydrogen Evolution with Superior Efficiency by a Low‐Cost, Large‐Scale Synergetic Hybrid of 1D‐Si Nanowires/0D‐Au Nanoparticles/2D‐MoS₂ Nanofilms

Abstract

The technology of using semiconductor photocatalysts to utilize solar energy has become an important research area. 2D MoS2 is recognized as a promising catalyst for photoelectrocatalytic and even photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions. However, owing to its 2D nature of low optical cross‐section, the effective light absorption needs to be much further boosted. Herein, we dramatically amplify the demanded light–matter interaction by hybridizing these 2D photocatalysts simultaneously with plasmonic materials that present strong electromagnetic field confinement and with nanowires that offer efficient light management. Such a system is designed in the heterostructure of silicon nanowires (SiNW)/ gold nanoparticles (AuNP)/ molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanofilms (SiNW/AuNP/MoS2), which demonstrates excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reactions (HER). The absorption frequency of 2D‐MoS2, the resonance frequency of the 0D‐AuNP, and the antireflection frequency of 1D‐SiNW match with the visible range, enabling this heterostructure to effectively utilize solar energy. Additionally, an optimal MoS2 nanofilm that is a mixture of both 1T and 2H phases was prepared with high reproducibility using facile pyrolysis. Moreover, the SiNW substrate validates high antireflection properties because of light‐trapping effects, achieving 95% visible light absorption. In addition, SiNW forms a p–n junction with the MoS2 to facilitate charge separation. The synergetic hybrid of 1D‐SiNW/0D‐AuNP/2D‐MoS2 nanofilms exhibits the highest hydrogen generation rate of 246 mmol g−1 h−1.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.