Broadened photocatalytic capability to near-infrared for CdS hybrids and positioning hydrogen evolution sites

Wide-spectrum light harvesting is critical in determining practical photocatalysis water splitting. Hybridization presents a viable strategy to broaden photocatalytic capability, yet the direct conversion of near-infrared (NIR) light remains a matter of great concern. Herein, a state-of-art ternary Au nanorods@MoS2-CdS (AMC) hybrid is designed to address this challenge. AMC achieves a leap-forward apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 1.06% at 700 nm and an AQY of 35.7% at 450 nm, extending the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) capability of CdS hybrids to the NIR region firstly. It is revealed that the energetic hot electrons supplied by Au nanorods (NRs) are responsible for this extension. Indispensable, MoS2 performs a platform to collect the hot electrons from Au NRs and the photoinduced electrons from CdS. The HER active sites are positioned as MoS2-CdS interfaces both from experimental and theoretical viewpoints. This work opens up a new horizon for the forward of the wide-spectrum photocatalysis design.