二维GaTe/Bi2Se3异质结：一类有潜力的Z型光解水催化剂

本文基于第一性原理方法，计算了二维GaTe/Bi₂Se₃异质结的电子结构、界面电荷转移、静电势分布、吸收光谱及光催化性质. 计算结果表明异质结是一个小能隙的准直接半导体，能有效捕获太阳光. 由于相对较强的界面內建极化电场和带边轻微弯曲，导致异质结中的光生电子和空穴分别有效分离在GaTe单层和Bi₂Se₃薄片上，可用于析氢和产氧. 这些理论计算结果意味着二维GaTe/Bi₂Se₃异质结是一类有潜力的Z型太阳能全解水催化剂.

Two-Dimensional GaTe/Bi2Se3 Heterostructure: a Promising Direct Z-scheme Water Splitting Photocatalyst

Among various photocatalytic materials, Z-scheme photocatalysts have drawn tremendous research interest due to high photocatalytic performance in solar water splitting. Here, we perform extensive hybrid density functional theory calculations to explore electronic structures, interfacial charge transfer, electrostatic potential profile, optical absorption properties, and photocatalytic properties of a proposed two-dimensional (2D) small-lattice-mismatched GaTe/Bi₂Se₃ heterostructure. Theoretical results clearly reveal that the examined heterostructure with a small direct band gap can effectively harvest the broad spectrum of the incoming sunlight. Due to the relative strong interfacial built-in electric field in the heterostructure and the small band gap between the valence band maximum of GaTe monolayer and the conduction band minimum of Bi₂Se₃ nanosheet with slight band edge bending, these photogenerated carriers transfer via Z-scheme pathway, which results in the photogenerated electrons and holes effectively separating into the GaTe monolayer and the Bi₂Se₃ nanosheet for the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions, respectively. Our results imply that the artificial 2D GaTe/Bi₂Se₃ is a promising Z-scheme photocatalyst for overall solar water splitting.