In Situ Irradiated X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy on the Ag-Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S Core–Shell Structure and the Hydrogen Production Activity

Abstract

The electron transfer mechanism of noble materials to semiconductor was enhanced for the first time by localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) using in situ irradiated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ISI-XPS) in this article. A sequence of the Ag-Zn0.5Cd0.5S core–shell system was made in our study with a shell thickness of 9–17 nm, and its hydrogen production was 15.6 times of that of pure Zn0.5Cd0.5S. The electromagnetic field around Zn0.5Cd0.5S was significantly increased by the LSPR effect of the AgNWs, thus producing more hot electrons, conquering the Schottky barrier and enhancing photocatalysis.