title: Nano-design of quantum dot-based photocatalysts for hydrogen generation using advanced surface molecular chemistry.
abstract: Efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation in a suspension system requires a sophisticated nano-device that combines a photon absorber with effective redox catalysts. This study demonstrates an innovative molecular linking strategy for fabricating photocatalytic materials that allow effective charge separation of excited carriers, followed by efficient hydrogen evolution. The method for the sequential replacement of ligands with appropriate molecules developed in this study tethers both quantum dots (QDs), as photosensitizers, and metal nanoparticles, as hydrogen evolution catalysts, to TiO2 surfaces in a controlled manner at the nano-level. Combining hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions on the surface, CdSe-ZnS core-shell QDs and an Au-Pt alloy were attached to TiO2 without overlapping during the synthesis. The resultant nano-photocatalysts achieved substantially high-performance visible-light-driven photocatalysis for hydrogen evolution. All syntheses were conducted at room temperature and in ambient air, providing a promising route for fabricating visible-light-responsive photocatalysts.
authors.affiliation: Division of Physical Sciences and Engineering, KAUST Catalysis Center (KCC), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), 4700 KAUST, Thuwal, 23955-6900 Saudi Arabia. kazuhiro.takanabe@kaust.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Weili
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Dalal
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noureldine
authors.forename: Tayirjan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Isimjan
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Del Gobbo
authors.forename: Mutalifu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abulikemu
authors.forename: Mohamed Nejib
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Hedhili
authors.forename: Dalaver H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Anjum
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takanabe