MoSe2-Sensitized Water Splitting Assisted by C60-Dendrons on the Basal Surface

To facilitate water splitting using MoSe2 as a light absorber, we fabricated water-dispersible MoSe2/C60-dendron nanohybrids via physical modification of the basal plane of MoSe2. Upon photoirradiation, the mixed-dimension MoSe2/C60 (2D/0D) heterojunction generates a charge-separated state (MoSe2⋅+/C60⋅−) through electron extraction from the exciton in MoSe2 to C60. This process is followed by the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) from water in the presence of a sacrificial donor (1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide) and co-catalyst (Pt-PVP). The apparent quantum yields of the HER were estimated to be 0.06 % and 0.27 % upon photoexcitation at the A- and B-exciton absorption peaks (λmax=800 and 700 nm), respectively.