In June 2026, Advanced Functional Materials published online the latest photocatalysis results from Prof. Shui Anze's group at South China University of Technology. First author: Li Guansheng; corresponding authors: Yu Hulei and Shui Anze (DOI: 10.1002/adfm.76608).
Powder photocatalytic hydrogen-evolution systems lack a directional built-in electric field, so the separation and transport of photogenerated electrons and holes are essentially random and bulk recombination is severe. This is one of the key factors limiting hydrogen-evolution efficiency.
The team used ordered stacking faults to break the long-range periodic structure of zinc-blende Zn0.5Cd0.5S and induce the formation of wurtzite phase, constructing a lattice-matched zinc-blende/wurtzite homojunction. The work-function difference at the homojunction interface, together with the spontaneous polarization of the wurtzite phase, builds a periodic built-in electric field that drives directional charge transport in the bulk. Meanwhile, precisely regulated sulfur vacancies act as shallow-level traps that selectively capture electrons, noticeably extending carrier lifetime and increasing surface active sites.
Under optimal conditions the system delivered a hydrogen-evolution rate of 192.11 mmol h-1 g-1, with the apparent quantum efficiency clearly improved relative to pristine Zn0.5Cd0.5S.
The photocatalytic activity evaluation was performed on the predecessor of the Perfectlight μGAS1001 Micro Gas Reaction Evaluation System, which integrates a control unit, gas-circulation module, automatic sampling module and reactor module for trace-gas catalytic reactions such as overall water splitting and CO2 reduction.
This work demonstrates that defect engineering can synchronously improve bulk charge separation and surface reaction kinetics, offering a general route for designing high-efficiency sulfide photocatalysts.
Read the Chinese report: AFM: latest results from SCUT.
