Unraveling the Interfacial Charge Migration Pathway at the Atomic Level in a Highly Efficient Z‐Scheme Photocatalyst

A highly efficient Z‐scheme photocatalytic system constructed with 1D CdS and 2D CoS₂ exhibited high photocatalytic hydrogen‐evolution activity of 5.54 mmol h^?1 g^?1 with an apparent quantum efficiency of 10.2 % at 420 nm. More importantly, its interfacial charge migration pathway was unraveled: The electrons are efficiently transferred from CdS to CoS₂ through a transition atomic layer connected by Co–S_5.8 coordination, thus resulting in more photogenerated carriers participating in surface reactions. Furthermore, the charge‐trapping and charge‐transfer processes were investigated by transient absorption spectroscopy, which gave an estimated charge‐separation yield of approximately 91.5 % and a charge‐separated‐state lifetime of approximately (5.2±0.5) ns in CdS/CoS₂. This study elucidates the key role of interfacial atomic layers in heterojunctions and will facilitate the development of more efficient Z‐scheme photocatalytic systems.     

Phosphorus‐Modulation‐Triggered Surface Disorder in Titanium Dioxide Nanocrystals Enables Exceptional Sodium‐Storage Performance

Structural modulation and surface engineering have remarkable advantages for fast and efficient charge storage. Herein, we present a phosphorus modulation strategy which simultaneously realizes surface structural disorder with interior atomic‐level P‐doping to boost the Na⁺ storage kinetics of TiO₂. It is found that the P‐modulated TiO₂ nanocrystals exhibit a favourable electronic structure, and enhanced structural stability, Na⁺ transfer kinetics, as well as surface electrochemical reactivity, resulting in a genuine zero‐strain characteristic with only approximately 0.1 % volume variation during Na⁺ insertion/extraction, and exceptional Na⁺ storage performance including an ultrahigh rate capability of 210 mAh g^?1 at 50 C and a strong long‐term cycling stability without significant capacity decay up to 5000 cycles at 30 C.