Atomic-Level Regulated 2D ReSe₂ : A Universal Platform Boostin Photocatalysis

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Solar hydrogen generation via photocatalytic water splitting offers a sustainable and carbon-neutral energy solution.
• Controllable atomic-level engineering of photocatalysts is crucial for enhancing their efficiency.
• Two-dimensional (2D) materials offer unique properties for advanced catalytic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer defected rhenium diselenide (ReSe2) nanosheets (NSs) at the atomic level.
• To investigate the impact of atomic-level engineering on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
• To demonstrate the versatility of ReSe2 NSs as a platform for enhancing various semiconductor photocatalysts.

Main Methods:

• Atomic-resolution aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (AC-STEM).
• Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) and in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
• Transient-state surface photovoltage (SPV) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, complemented by theoretical computations.

Main Results:

• Atomic-level engineering of ReSe2 NSs significantly boosted photocatalytic H2 evolution on TiO2, CdS, ZnIn2S4, and C3N4.
• The strongly coupled ReSe2/TiO2 interface and abundant atomic-level active sites in defected ReSe2 NSs were confirmed.
• Enhanced charge separation and transfer at the ReSe2/TiO2 interface contributed to the raised activity.

Conclusions:

• Defected ReSe2 NSs serve as a versatile platform for atomic-level engineering, significantly enhancing photocatalytic activity.
• This work highlights the critical role of atomic-level synthesis and exploration of 2D materials for efficient energy conversion and storage.
• The findings pave the way for developing advanced photocatalysts for solar fuel production.