This study reports a synergistic system integrating tunable ferroelectric polarization of BaTiO₃ (BTO) and a Z-scheme heterojunction in Zn₀.₅Cd₀.₅S quantum dots (ZCS QDs). The strong built-in electric field generated by ferroelectric polarization enhances interfacial band bending and facilitates efficient charge transport. Through characterizations via in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM), the critical role of ferroelectric polarization in driving photogenerated carrier separation and directional charge transfer is confirmed. Notably, external polarization further boosts the hydrogen production rate by 143% compared to the pristine system.
These findings provide a reference for the design of high-performance photocatalysts and are expected to be beneficial for renewable hydrogen production and energy sustainability.
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, and other projects.
Article link: //doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202405708
