Interface Engineering in Gradient Core/Shell Quantum Dots Enables Efficient Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Semiconductor core/shell quantum dots (QDs) are considered promising building blocks to fabricate photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells for the direct conversion of solar energy into hydrogen (H 2 ). However, the lattice mismatch between core and shell in such QDs results in undesirable defects and severe carrier recombination, limiting photo-induced carrier separation/transfer and solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency. Here, we explore an interface engineering approach to minimize the core-shell lattice mismatch in CdS/CdSe x S 1-x (x=0.09~1) core/shell QDs (g-CSG). As a proof-of-concept, PEC cells based on g-CSG QDs yield a remarkable photocurrent density of 13.1 mA/cm 2 under AM 1.5 G one-sun illumination (100 mW/cm 2 ), which is ~54.1% and ~33.7% higher compared to that in CdS/CdSe 0.5 S 0.5 (g-CSA) and CdS/CdSe QDs (g-CS), respectively. Theoretical calculations and carrier dynamics confirm more efficient carrier separation and charge transfer rate in g-CSG QDs with respect to g-CSA and g-CS QDs. These results are attributed to the minimization of the core-shell lattice mismatch by the cascade gradient shell in g-CSG QDs, which modifies carrier confinement potential and reduces interfacial defects. This work provides fundamental insights into the interface engineering of core/shell QDs and may open up new avenues to boost the performance of PEC cells for H 2 evolution and other QDs-based optoelectronic devices.