Self-assembled inorganic clusters of semiconducting quantum dots for effective solar hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Owing to promoted electron–hole separation, the catalytic activity of semiconducting quantum dots (QDs) towards solar hydrogen (H₂) production has been significantly enhanced by forming self-assembled clusters with ZnSe QDs made ex situ. Taking advantage of the favored interparticle hole transfer to ZnSe QDs, the rate of solar H₂ evolution of CdSe QDs can be increased to ∼30 000 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ with ascorbic acid as the sacrificial reagent, ∼150-fold higher than that of bare CdSe QDs clusters under the same conditions.