Layer Structured Cocatalyst for Photocatalysis: Transition Metal Sulfide

The production of hydrogen fuel from sunlight is an attractive and sustainable solution to global energy and environmental problems. Precious metal cocatalysts are considered to be excellent cocatalysts in photocatalytic reactions for their ability to lower reaction energy barriers and enhance photogenerated carriers. However, due to their high cost and limited reserves, it is urgent to explore low-cost and efficient alternative non-precious metal cocatalysts. In recent years, transition metal disulfides including molybdenum disulfide and tungsten disulfide, have been considered as promising candidates to replace Pt for photocatalytic reactions. The unique structural and electronic properties of transition metal sulfides (TMDs) provide more chance to be designed as efficient cocatalysts for a variety of light-trapping semiconductors. It was found that the loading of TMD cocatalysts on the surface of photocatalysts can change their photocatalytic performance such as the photogenerated carrier separation efficiency and the active sites on the surface of the materials. Therefore, TMD cocatalysts have attracted a lot of attention in clean energy. This chapter focuses on the application of TMDs as cocatalysts in photocatalysis, including the fundamentals of TMD materials and their synthesis and specific applications.