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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Synthesis, Characterization, and Functionalization of Hybrid Au/CdS and Au/ZnS Core/Shell Nanoparticles
Published on: March 2, 2016
Durian-Shaped CdS@ZnSe Core@Mesoporous-Shell Nanoparticles for Enhanced and Sustainable Photocatalytic Hydrogen
Zichao Lian1, Masanori Sakamoto2, Yoichi Kobayashi3
1Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science , Kyoto University , Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011 , Japan.
Abstract:
In artificial photosynthesis, the establishment of design guidelines for nanostructures to maximize the photocatalytic performance remains a great challenge. In contrast with the intense research into band-offset tuning for photocatalysts, the relationship between nanostructures and photoinduced carrier dynamics has still been insufficiently explored. We synthesized durian-shaped CdS@ZnSe core@mesporous-shell nanoparticles ( d-CdS/ZnSe NPs) and investigated the carrier dynamics in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The cocatalyst-free d-CdS/ZnSe NPs exhibited high photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution (14.8% apparent quantum yield at 420 nm) and excellent stability (maintaining 80% activity after 72 h) under visible-light irradiation (>422 nm). The transient absorption measurement and flash photolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity unveiled that the ultra-long-lived charge separation (>6.2 ms) and swift hole transfer to the surfaces of ZnSe shell (11 ns) contribute the high catalytic activity and stability. The present work provides a novel insight into designing nanoparticulate photocatalysts with optimized performance.
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