Rationally designed Ta3N5@ReS2 heterojunctions for promoted photocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

Highly-active heterojunctions hold the pivotal function in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, Ta₃N₅@ReS₂ photocatalysts are rationally designed via the combination of template-assisted, hydrothermal and solution–adsorption processes, in which few-layered ReS₂ nanosheets are anchored on hollow Ta₃N₅ nanospheres with intimate contact for charge transfer. The photocatalytic H₂ production rate of Ta₃N₅@ReS₂ heterojunctions reaches 739.4 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, which is ∼16 times higher than that of the bulk Ta₃N₅ counterpart, and superior to those of Ta₃N₅-based photocatalysts ever reported. According to the experimental results and theory calculation, it is proposed that such designed Ta₃N₅@ReS₂ heterojunctions could be highly effective for enhancing the absorptivity of light, improving charge separation and transfer, as well as increasing edge active sites for HER, thus leading to the promoted H₂-evolution kinetics.