Surface ligand functionalized Few-layered MoSe₂ nanosheets decorated CdS nanorods for spectacular rate of H₂ production

The properties of few-layered transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are extremely interesting in the category of two-dimensional (2D) materials due to their feasibility of band gap engineering, high carrier mobility, and the ability to tune carrier concentration, which makes its utilization in wide range application. In the current study, we report the conversion of MoSe₂ multilayers into a few layers as well as tune its band gap and band potentials by surface organic ligand (benzylamine) functionalization. Further, this functionalized few-layered MoSe₂ has been deposited on CdS nanorods and tested for photocatalytic H₂ production through water splitting under solar similar light excitation. Consequently, the optimized BA-MoSe₂/CdS composites generated efficient hydrogen (54.9 µmol∙h⁻¹ g⁻¹) production, which is 3 and 18 folds enhanced than the simple few-layered MoSe₂/CdS and CdS, respectively. The decoration of a few layered BA-MoSe₂ on CdS nanorods effectively alters the band potentials suitably for proton reduction, then, separated greater photo-induced chargers, thereby, improving electrons accommodation on the catalysts surface and transferring to the active sites. Particularly, these outcomes would give a potential prospect for prominent photocatalytic systems development owing to their spectacular photo-efficiency and economic feasibility.