Hydrogen production through photoelectrocatalysis on p-type molybdenum sulphide

The effect of depositing islets of metals having widely different work functions has been examined by means of the measurement of the relation of photocurrent to potential on p-MoS 2, containing, respectively, islets of Pt, Au, Co, Pb and Cd. From the exponential sections of the photocurrent-potential curves, the shift, ΔE, caused at constant photocurrent by the presence of the metal was observed. The limiting photocurrent is unaffected by the metal islets. Four models for such effects are examined. The evidence seems strongest for a model in which the rate-determining step of electrochemical charge transfer occurs at the islet-solution interface.