Localized surface plasmon resonance coupling with piezophototronic effect for enhancing hydrogen evolution reaction with Au@MoS2 nanoflowers

The hydrogen evolution rate of Au nanoparticles encapsulated by MoS 2 nanoflowers (Au@MoS 2 NFs) was dramatically increased through localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) coupling with the piezophototronic effect. The heterostructured Au@MoS 2 NFs had highly active reaction sites for intense piezoelectric polarization that established an electric field and a surface plasmon effect to play a crucial role in regulating interfacial charge migration. Simultaneous light irradiation and mechanical vibration applied to the Au@MoS 2 NFs increased the hydrogen evolution from 2981 μmol g −1 h −1 for the solely piezocatalytic process to 4808 μmol g −1 h −1 . The hydrogen evolution rate of the Au@MoS 2 NFs was 161% that of pristine MoS 2 NFs. The considerable performance improvement was attributed to piezoelectric generation of hot electrons through LSPR. Density functional theory and the finite element method were employed to simulate the charge transfer of the Au@MoS 2 NFs under simultaneous light irradiation and mechanical vibration. Greater mechanical strain on the heterostructured catalysts yielded a greater electric field, demonstrating the piezophototronic effect had strong synergy with LSPR and thus increasing the hydrogen evolution rate. The hydrogen evolution rate of Au nanoparticles encapsulated by MoS 2 nanoflowers (Au@MoS 2 NFs) was dramatically increased through localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) coupling with the piezophototronic effect. Simultaneous light irradiation and mechanical vibration applied to the Au@MoS 2 NFs increased the hydrogen evolution from 2981 μmol g −1 h −1 for the solely piezocatalytic process to 4808 μmol g −1 h −1 . • Heterostructured Au@MoS 2 nanoflower catalysts have highly active reaction sites. • Intense piezoelectric polarization built-in electric field coupled with localized surface plasmon (LSPR) effect. • The synergistic combination of LSPR and the piezophototronic effect yielded a considerable internal electric field. • Electric field regulating the interfacial charge migration to trigger electrochemical reactions.