Bond-Energy-Driven, Low- or High-Angle-Grain-Boundary-Movement-Mediated Synthesis of Porous Se–Te for Use in Water-Splitting Reactions

Herein, for the first time, we applied the metal–metal-bond-energy factor to the evolution of a porous Se–Te alloy. The porous Se–Te material has been prepared from the constituents’ elemental states, through only a heating–cooling process in silicone oil without the use of any reagent, surfactant, or capping agent. Surprisingly, the reaction occurred at a much lower temperature (240 °C) than the mp (450 °C) of Te 0 . The reaction’s nucleation and growth by means of varied bond energy have been clarified for the first time. A difference in the bond energies of a hetero metal–metal bond (Se–Te) and a homo metal–metal bond (Se–Se) directs nucleation and growth toward the fabrication of a porous structure, even from the constituents’ elemental states, in which low-angle-grain-boundary (LAGB) and high-angle-grain-boundary (HAGB) movements play governing roles. Proper band-gap alignment of Se and Te makes the alloy composite applicable to water-splitting reactions under Xe-arc-lamp illumination. PEC efficiency of Se–Te was found to be higher than those reported for Se and other composite materials.