From Janus nanoparticles to multi-headed structure - photocatalytic H2 evolution

The generation of stable, high-performance photocatalysts with appropriate charge distribution for solar energy conversion is currently one of the urgent missions of photocatalytic science. Recent studies have shown that the Janus NPs with characteristic varied, asymmetric structure may boost overall efficiency of photocatalys. However, there is still a lack of systematic studies in which Janus-type particles are used in the hydrogen generation reaction in the visible light range. Herein, a different structures from Janus NPs, Janus-like to multi-headed structure based on ZnS and Ag were designed representatively through systematical characterization and theoretical calculation that have been targeted at efficient visible-light-driven H2 generation. It has been shown that typical asymetric structures of Janus NPs characterised more active in the photocatalytic reaction of hydrogen generation in visible light than Janus-like and multi-headed structures and pure ZnS nanoparticles. The H2 yield is related to the structure of Janus-type particles and thus to the formation of Ag and Zn oxides surface species for different structures. Systematic knowledge provided by a combined experimental and computational study may help enhance the efficiency of controlling Janus-type particles through appropriate structural manipulation at the early stage of the design process (before synthesis).