Shockley Partial Dislocation-Induced Self-Rectified 1D Hydrogen Evolution Photocatalyst

Photocatalytic stability and efficient charge separation are key factors to photocatalytic performance for visible-light-driven H2 evolution from water. Here, we report a whole novel self-rectified photocatalyst constructed from the Shockley partial dislocation-induced multiple faults, using a ternary chalcogenide, that is, Cd0.8Zn0.2S nanorod as a model material. The introduction of multiple faults, which are typical planar defects, constructs a nanorectifier that aligns along the axial direction and constitutes a relatively ordered superstructure. The band bending and Fermi-level flattening at the nanorectifier would cause the photogenerated charge carriers to be transferred reversely at the axial direction on account of the charge type and then realize the separation of the charge carriers.