Plasmonic TiN nanobelts assisted broad spectrum photocatalytic H2 generation.

• TiN nanobelts were firstly employed as cocatalyst in photocatalytic H 2 generation. • A 0D/1D CdS nanoparticles/TiN nanobelts heterojunction was firstly fabricated. • The heterojunction exhibited photocatalytic H 2 evolution from 420 to 760 nm. • The LSPR effect of TiN and Ohmic-junction accounted for the enhanced activity. The conversion of solar energy in a wide spectrum region to clean fuel, H 2 , remains a challenge in the field of photocatalysis. Herein, plasmonic TiN nanobelts, as a novel cocatalyst, were coupled with CdS nanoparticles to construct a 0D/1D CdS/TiN heterojunction. Utilization of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect generated from TiN nanobelts was effective in promoting light absorption in the near-infrared region, accelerating charge separation, and generating hot electrons, which can effectively improve the photocatalytic H 2 generation activity of the 0D/1D CdS/TiN heterojunction over a wide spectral range. Furthermore, owing to the high metallicity and low work function, an ohmic-junction was formed between the CdS and TiN, favoring the transfer of hot electrons generated from TiN nanobelts the CdS nanoparticles, followed by the reaction with water to generate H 2. Consequently, the 0D/1D CdS/TiN heterojunction demonstrated H 2 generation activity even under light irradiation at 760 nm, while the pure CdS and Pt nanoparticles modified CdS presented no activity. This work opens a new insight into coupling plasmonic cocatalysts to realize full spectrum H 2 production. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]