Au-Edged CuZnSe2 Heterostructured Nanosheets with Enhanced Electrochemical Performance

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials and heterostructured nanocrystals (NCs) are two hot topics in current nanoresearch. However, reports on heterostructured NCs with 2D features are still rare. In this work, we demonstrate a one-pot colloidal chemistry route for synthesizing Au-CuZnSe2 heterostructures with spherical Au domains attached to the edge of a sheet of CuZnSe2. This protocol involves the preferential formation of Au clusters and the seeded growth of CuZnSe2 sheets because of the lattice matching of CuSe with Au. As an example to demonstrate the importance of such heterostructures, the electrochemical performance of Au-CuZnSe2 heterostructured nanosheets is compared with that of heterostructured nanorods, Au NCs, and CuZnSe2 NCs. The heterostructured nanosheets exhibit the best electrochemical activity.