Largely enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of CdS/(Au–ReS2) nanospheres by the dielectric–plasmon hybrid antenna effect

In this study, we synthesized CdS/(Au-ReS2) nanospheres that have highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production activity induced by dielectric-plasmon hybrid antenna resonance. As the diameter (D) of ReS2 nanospheres consisting of 2D nanosheets increases from 114 ± 11 to 218 ± 25 nm, the resonance wavelength of the ReS2 dielectric antenna is tuned from 380 to 620 nm and the hydrogen production rate for the CdS/(Au-ReS2) nanospheres increases by more than 1.85 times and reaches a value as high as 3060 μmol g-1 h-1, with a 9% weight percentage of Au. Due to the enhancements of the local electromagnetic field and excitation energy transfer by the ReS2-Au dielectric-plasmon hybrid antenna, the hydrogen production rate for the CdS/(Au-ReS2) nanospheres (D = 218 ± 25 nm) is 797, 319, 105 and 12 times larger than that for pure ReS2, Au-ReS2, CdS, and CdS-ReS2, respectively. Additionally, the persistence and reusability measurements indicate a favorable stability of CdS/(Au-ReS2). These results provide a strategy to prepare a new class of dielectric-plasmon hybrid antennas consisting of 2D materials and metal nanoparticles, which have promise in applications ranging from photocatalysis to nonlinear optics.