Fabrication of Core-Shell Nanocolloids with Various Core Sizes to Promote Light Capture for Green Fuels

Core-shell nanocolloids with tailored physical and chemical merits hold attractive potential for energy-related applications. Herein, core-shell nanocolloids composed of zinc/copper sulfide (ZnS/CuS_x ) shells and silica (SiO₂ ) cores were fabricated by a template-engaged synthetic method. Interestingly, the sizes of SiO₂ cores can be tuned by different sulfurization time. In virtue of the light scattering and reflection on the SiO₂ surface, the efficiencies of light capture by ZnS/Cu₂ S shells were highly dependent on the SiO₂ sizes. The as-fabricated SiO₂ @ZnS/Cu₂ S with a core size of 205 nm exhibited the highest and broadest absorption within a light wavelength of 380-700 nm. In virtue of the structural and componential features of these nanocolloids, maximum photocatalytic hydrogen (H₂ ) production rates of 2968 and 1824 μmol h^-1  g^-1 under UV-vis and visible light have been delivered, respectively. This work may provide some evidence for the design and fabrication of core-shell nanomaterials to convert solar energy to green fuels.