Atomically thin PdSeO3 nanosheets: a promising 2D photocatalyst produced by quaternary ammonium intercalation and exfoliation

Abstract

In 2018, the two-dimensional (2D) PdSeO₃ monolayer was predicted to be a highly promising photocatalyst for direct overall water splitting in the light of density functional theory (DFT) computations. Herein, we present the first report on the synthesis of 2D PdSeO₃ nanosheets by using the quaternary ammonium intercalation-assisted electrochemical exfoliation method. The resulting atomically thin PdSeO₃ nanosheets possess a moderate band gap with suitable band edge alignments for water splitting, and display excellent activity and stability in photocatalytic H₂ evolution.