Interfacial ReS bonds as charge transfer highways toward superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Robust heterojunction interfacial interactions are critical for enhancing photogenerated charge separation and transfer, which drives substantial improvements in photocatalytic performance. Herein, a novel 2D/1D ReS₂/Mn_0.3Cd_0.7S heterojunction photocatalyst with interfacial atomic-level ReS chemical bond was rationally constructed by in-situ hydrothermal growth of 2D ReS₂ nanosheets on 1D Mn_0.3Cd_0.7S nanorods surface. The interfacial S atom sharing between ReS₂ and Mn_0.3Cd_0.7S generated ReS bonds, which served as electron bridge to effectively reduce interfacial resistance and accelerate photogenerated charges transport, and then remarkably boosting photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity. As a result, the optimized 6% ReS₂/Mn_0.3Cd_0.7S heterojunction achieves a maximum hydrogen evolution rate of 325 μmol·h^-1 under visible light irradiation with lactic acid as sacrificial reagent, which is 15.5 times higher than that of pristine Mn_0.3Cd_0.7S, corresponding to an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 5.6% at 420 nm monochromatic light. This work elucidates the pivotal role of interfacial chemical bond formation in modulating the photocatalytic performance of ReS₂/Mn_0.3Cd_0.7S heterojunction, and offers a facile reliable strategy for the rational design of high efficiency cocatalysts via interface engineering.