Synthesis of Bi2S3–Au Dumbbell Heteronanostructures with Enhanced Photocatalytic and Photoresponse Properties

In this article, novel types of Bi2S3–Au heterostructures are fabricated through rationally controlling the growth atmosphere. Under argon, Au nanoparticles are preferentially deposited onto the tips of Bi2S3 nanorods to form Bi2S3–Au dumbbell heterostructures. In contrast, because of the etching effect by amine, Au nanoparticles are randomly anchored onto the surface of nanorods to form Bi2S3–Au nanocorns in the presence of oxygen. Furthermore, the size of gold nanoparticles can be controlled through adjusting the concentration of reaction precursors. Bi2S3–Au dumbbells show superior activity for the photodegradation of organic pollutants and an enhanced photoresponse compared to the Bi2S3–Au nanocorns. The significantly improved photocatalytic performance of Bi2S3–Au dumbbells is ascribed to the more efficient charge separation compared to that of Bi2S3–Au nanocorns. These heterostructures composed of environmentally friendly elements are expected to be promising for applications in the field of clean e...