Heterogeneous AgxCdyS‐AgCd Nanoparticles with Chiral Bias for Enhanced Photocatalytic Efficiency

Abstract Stereoselective catalysis is common in living systems mediated by natural nanoenzymes. However, few artificial nanomaterials are developed for enantioselective and stereoselective catalysis. In this study, Ag x Cd y S‐AgCd nanoparticles (NPs) with specific heterojunctions, strong chiral optical activities, and excellent enantioselective catalytic ability are constructed. Similar to photosensitive enzymes, Ag x Cd y S‐AgCd NPs stabilized with l ‐/ d ‐penicillamine ( l ‐/ d ‐Ag x Cd y S‐AgCd NPs) can serve as photocatalysts, which show the highest catalytic efficiency toward the photodegradation of methyl blue compared with that of Ag 2 S and CdS NPs and lead to 50% enhancement of photoconversion efficiency of Cr 6+ to Cr 3+ as well. Moreover, attributed to the higher chiral preference between l ‐Ag x Cd y S‐AgCd NPs and l ‐Tartaric acid ( l ‐TA), d ‐Ag x Cd y S‐AgCd NPs and d ‐Tartaric acid ( d ‐TA), the photoreduction efficiency of Cr 6+ to Cr 3+ mediated by l ‐Ag x Cd y S‐AgCd NPs with l ‐TA, and d ‐Ag x Cd y S‐AgCd NPs with d ‐TA samples is enhanced as high as 30% compared with the samples of l ‐Ag x Cd y S‐AgCd NPs with d ‐TA, and d ‐Ag x Cd y S‐AgCd NPs with L‐TA. This study establishes a versatile way to construct enantioselective inorganic catalysts for biocatalysis, biomedicine, and other applications.