Largely enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of CdS/(Au–ReS2) nanospheres by the dielectric–plasmon hybrid antenna effect

Abstract

In this study, we synthesized CdS/(Au–ReS₂) nanospheres that have highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production activity induced by dielectric–plasmon hybrid antenna resonance. As the diameter (D) of ReS₂ nanospheres consisting of 2D nanosheets increases from 114 ± 11 to 218 ± 25 nm, the resonance wavelength of the ReS₂ dielectric antenna is tuned from 380 to 620 nm and the hydrogen production rate for the CdS/(Au–ReS₂) nanospheres increases by more than 1.85 times and reaches a value as high as 3060 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, with a 9% weight percentage of Au. Due to the enhancements of the local electromagnetic field and excitation energy transfer by the ReS₂–Au dielectric–plasmon hybrid antenna, the hydrogen production rate for the CdS/(Au–ReS₂) nanospheres (D = 218 ± 25 nm) is 797, 319, 105 and 12 times larger than that for pure ReS₂, Au–ReS₂, CdS, and CdS–ReS₂, respectively. Additionally, the persistence and reusability measurements indicate a favorable stability of CdS/(Au–ReS₂). These results provide a strategy to prepare a new class of dielectric–plasmon hybrid antennas consisting of 2D materials and metal nanoparticles, which have promise in applications ranging from photocatalysis to nonlinear optics.