Counterbalancing of electron and hole transfer in quantum dots for enhanced photocatalytic H_(2)evolution

In-depth understandings of charge carrier transfer dynamics in any artificial catalytic system are of critical importance for the future design of highly efficient photocatalysts.Herein,we synthesized sub-monolayer ZnSe partial-shell coated CdSe/CdS core/shell quantum dots in a controlled fashion.The ZnSe decorated quantum dots were employed as a model catalyst for photogeneration of H_(2)under light illumination.Both theoretical calculations and experimental results unravel that the growth of ZnSe partial-shell would retard the photogenerated electron transfer,and meanwhile,accelerate the corresponding hole migration process during the H_(2)photogeneration reaction in the artificial photocatalytic system.As such,the performance of the relevant photocatalytic system can be modulated and optimized,and accordingly,a plausible underlying mechanism is rationalized.