title: Template-free preparation of volvox-like Cd(x)Zn(1-x)S nanospheres with cubic phase for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production.
abstract: Volvox-like Cdx Zn1-x S solid solutions with a cubic zinc blend structure were synthesized through a template-free ethylene glycol process. Cd(Ac)2 ⋅2 H2 O, Zn(Ac)2 ⋅2 H2 O, and thiourea are used as the starting materials and dissolved in ethylene glycol. These reaction precursors and solvent not only contributed to control over the formation of the volvox-like spherical geometry, but also exerted vigorous domination for existence of cubic-phase Cdx Zn1-x S nanostructures. As-prepared volvox-like Cdx Zn1-x S nanospheres have a diameter of around 100 nm with extensional shells. These samples show excellent photocatalytic H2 evolution activity from water splitting under visible-light irradiation without any cocatalyst or scaffolding, owing to their tunable band gap, cubic zinc blend structure, and unique hierarchical porous structure with a high surface area (as high as 95.2 m(2)  g(-1) ).
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190 (P.R. China); College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266510 (P.R. China).
authors.forename: Hangyue
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Qingyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jiechao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Minhuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianxin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Pengfei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: heterogeneous catalysis; hydrogen; nanostructures; photochemistry; structure-activity relationships