@article{Lian2026, 
author = {Yang Lian and Shuai Shao and Yunlong Du and Yunna Gao and Jinwen Yi and Wei Zheng},
title = {The mechanism of hierarchical regulation to improve stability of heavy-metal-free Zn:CuFeS2 quantum dots sensitized solar PEC cells for highly-efficient hydrogen evolution},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {19},
number = {6},
pages = {94908672},
keywords = {stability, hydrogen evolution, solar photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells, photo-corrosion, sulfide quantum dots (QDs)},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2026.94908672},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2026.94908672},
abstract = {The photo-corrosion of sulfide quantum dots (QDs) always limits the applications in photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells as photo-sensitizers. Herein, Zn-doped CuFeS2 (ZCIS) QDs were synthesized to sensitize TiO2/F-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass photoanode. After Zn introduction, the highly chemically active S22− in CuFeS2 (CIS) QDs disappears, and the average grain size of Zn:CuFeS2 reduces, enhancing the quantum confinement effect that accelerates the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers. After coated with ZnS passivation layer, ZnS/ZCIS/TiO2/FTO photoanode was employed for H2 evolution together with a Pt sheet electrode in aqueous electrolyte. The I-type ZnS/ZCIS heterojunction not only suppresses back electron transfer, but also promotes transfer of carriers furtherly. Zn doping and ZnS coating inhibit photo-corrosion of ZCIS QDs, and improve PEC performance and stability significantly. Under one sun illumination (100 mW/cm2), ZnS/ZCIS/TiO2/FTO photoanode based cell has achieved accumulative H2 yield of 642.17 μmol/cm2 for 4 h with average rate of 160.54 μmol/(cm2·h) at 0.6 V bias. After 16-h H2 evolution in 4-cycle test, the average rate decreases by only 2.13%.}
}