Nanoporous CdS nanostructures, including nanosheets and hollow nanorods, have been prepared by a two-step aqueous route, which consists of a first precipitation of nanoporous Cd(OH) 2 intermediates and a subsequent S 2-/OHion-exchange conversion of the obtained Cd(OH) 2 used as template either to nanoporous CdS nanosheets with sizes up to 60 nm and an average thickness of about 9 nm or to CdS hollow nanorods with lengths up to 30 nm and outer diameters in the range 7-14 nm. The obtained CdS nanostructures containing nanopores with diameters of ∼3 nm exhibit a very large BET surface area of about 112.8 m 2 g -1 . A very high hydrogen yield of about 4.1 mmol h -1 under visible light irradiation (λ g 420 nm), corresponding to the highest apparent quantum yield of about 60.34% measured at 420 nm so far reported, has been attained over the obtained nanoporous CdS nanostructures loaded with monodisperse 3-5 nm Pt nanocrystals, which is due to an efficient charge separation, a fast transport of the photogenerated carriers, and a fast photochemical reaction at the CdS/electrolyte interface. The photocatalytic reaction conditions, such as the Pt-loading content, the amount of catalyst, and the concentration of sacrificial regents, have been optimized.

We report on a novel heterojunction WO(3)/BiVO(4) photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting. The heterojunction films are prepared by solvothermal deposition of a WO(3) nanorod-array film onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass, with subsequent deposition of a low bandgap, 2.4 eV, visible light responding BiVO(4) layer by spin-coating. The heterojunction structure offers enhanced photoconversion efficiency and increased photocorrosion stability. Compared to planar WO(3)/BiVO(4) heterojunction films, the nanorod-array films show significantly improved photoelectrochemical properties due, we believe, to the high surface area and improved separation of the photogenerated charge at the WO(3)/BiVO(4) interface. Synthesis details are discussed, with film morphologies and structures characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction.

Monodisperse ternary ferrite (MFe2O4, M = Co, Ni, Mn, and Fe) nanocrystals have been synthesized through a facile and general route involving thermolysis of an intimately mixed binary metal−oleate complex with similar decomposition temperature of the constituents.

Monodisperse wurtzite CuIn(x)Ga(1-x)S(2) nanocrystals have been synthesized over the entire composition range using a facile solution-based method. Depending on the chemical composition and synthesis conditions, the morphology of the nanocrystals can be controlled in the form of bullet-like, rod-like, and tadpole-like shapes. The band gap of the nanocrystals increases linearly with increasing Ga concentration, with band gap values for the end members being close to those observed in the bulk. Colloidal suspensions of the nanocrystals are attractive for use as inks for low-cost fabrication of thin film solar cells by spin or spray coating.