Synthesis of Bi 2 S 3 -Au Dumbbell Heteronanostructures with Enhanced Photocatalytic and Photoresponse Properties.

In this article, novel types of Bi2 S3 -Au heterostructures are fabricated through rationally controlling the growth atmosphere. Under argon, Au nanoparticles are preferentially deposited onto the tips of Bi2 S3 nanorods to form Bi2 S3 -Au dumbbell heterostructures. In contrast, because of the etching effect by amine, Au nanoparticles are randomly anchored onto the surface of nanorods to form Bi2 S3 -Au nanocorns in the presence of oxygen. Furthermore, the size of gold nanoparticles can be controlled through adjusting the concentration of reaction precursors. Bi2 S3 -Au dumbbells show superior activity for the photodegradation of organic pollutants and an enhanced photoresponse compared to the Bi2 S3 -Au nanocorns. The significantly improved photocatalytic performance of Bi2 S3 -Au dumbbells is ascribed to the more efficient charge separation compared to that of Bi2 S3 -Au nanocorns. These heterostructures composed of environmentally friendly elements are expected to be promising for applications in the field of clean energy.