Abstract

A novel metal–semiconductor and/or heterodimensional nanohybrid material (CdS–MoS₂) is synthesized by hybridizing catalytically important materials (i.e., zero-dimensional CdS quantum dots and two-dimensional, unilamellar MoS₂ sheets). According to our high-resolution transmission electron microscopic (HRTEM) analyses on the present nanohybrid, ca. 6.5 nm CdS quantum dots are successfully immobilized in the interlayer space of MoS₂ sheets. The microscopic internal structure of the CdS–MoS₂ nanohybrid is mainly characterized as a “house of cards” structure. Such a microscopic evolution is further demonstrated by BET specific surface area analyses. The BET surface area (∼84 m² g⁻¹) of the present nanohybrid sample is nearly two orders of magnitude larger than that of the pristine material (2H-MoS₂), suggesting that the CdS quantum dots are rather loosely packed in the interlayer space of MoS₂ platelets to create many voids. We suggest, from the observed microscopic evolution and the increased BET surface area, that the present nanohybrid material can be successfully applied as a high performance catalyst in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and/or visible light harvesting photocatalyst.