Reversing Free‐Electron Transfer of MoS_2+<i>x</i> Cocatalyst for Optimizing Antibonding‐Orbital Occupancy Enables High Photocatalytic H₂ Evolution

Abstract

The interaction between a co-catalyst and photocatalyst usually induces spontaneous free-electron transfer between them, but the effect and regulation of the transfer direction on the hydrogen-adsorption energy of the active sites have not received attention. Herein, to steer the free-electron transfer in a favorable direction for weakening S-H_ads bonds of sulfur-rich MoS_2+x , an electron-reversal strategy is proposed for the first time. The core-shell Au@MoS_2+x cocatalyst was constructed on TiO₂ to optimize the antibonding-orbital occupancy. Research results reveal that the embedded Au can reverse the electron transfer to MoS_2+x to generate electron-rich S^(2+δ)- active sites, thus increasing the antibonding-orbital occupancy of S-H_ads in the Au@MoS_2+x cocatalyst. Consequently, the increase in the antibonding-orbital occupancy effectively destabilizes the H 1s-p antibonding orbital and weakens the S-H_ads bond, realizing the expedited desorption of H_ads to rapidly generate a lot of visible H₂ bubbles. This work delves deep into the latent effect of the photocatalyst carrier on cocatalytic activity.