Photocatalyst with Chloroplast‐like Structure for Enhancing Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Fei Zhao, Nan Zhang, Hao Li, Xiaochen Zhang, Zhengtang Luo, Yuhua Wang
Abstract
Photosynthesis with the chloroplast works efficiently because of the envelope structure that serves to carry enzymes and to simultaneously maintain the spatial separation of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. Inspired by the spatially separated architecture, a chloroplast‐like structured photocatalyst (PdS@CdS@MoS 2 ), in which the PdS and MoS 2 function as enzymes in the chloroplast and CdS shell functions as the chloroplast envelope, was developed to improve the photocatalytic H 2 evolution. In this unique nanoscale bionic structure, the poriferous CdS shell enhances light absorption, generates photoinduced carriers, and separates oxidation and reduction reactions. Meanwhile, PdS and MoS 2 dual cocatalysts enhance the charge separation efficiency through forming a built‐in electric field with CdS. We demonstrate that the separation efficiency of carriers, carrier lifetime, and the yield of H 2 are both higher than that of CdS nanoparticles, evidencing the feasibility of the chloroplast‐like structure in enhancing the photocatalyst activity. This work emphasizes the synergism of the three key processes of the photocatalytic reaction by simulating the chloroplast structure and provides a general synthesis strategy, the synthesis of novel structured for photocatalysts for diverse applications in the energy field.