Utilizing charge carrier separation intrinsic to type II semiconductor heterostructured nanocrystals, an efficient means for the production of H2 via photocatalysis is offered.  Furthermore, by judiciously selecting the semiconductor material for each domain, we have synthesized a structure capable of maintaining consistent H2 production while resisting photodegradation due to oxidation. Hydrogen production on platinum tipped site of the semiconductor can only be sustained when the ligands on the nanocrystal surface are used for removal of holes. The inorganic portion of the nanocrystal-ligand system enables an efficient and stable reduction of water as they fill vacancies in the valence band of the semiconductor domain, by efficiently transferring the oxidized holes to the ligand moiety.  This allows the continuation of H2 production by recharging the nanoparticals with fresh ligands.

Application of semiconductor-metal heterostructured nanocrystals for the production of hydrogen via photocatalysis

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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