Broad spectral absorption cooperates with local plasma resonance for promoted photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen production

Solar energy into hydrogen (H 2 ) energy, as a promising clean energy technology, has garnered significant attention in the face of the escalating global energy crisis. Herein, an innovative Cu@C-N@ZnIn 2 S 4 core–shell catalyst was designed for achieving efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H 2 production with a notable H 2 evolution rate of 6.05 mmol h −1 g −1 under simulated sunlight irradiation and apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 9.35 % at wavelength of 420 nm. The enhanced photothermal-assisted photocatalytic performance is attributed to its unique core–shell structure, where the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of the Cu@C-N core significantly amplifies the photothermal effect, leading to a substantial increase in the reaction system’s temperature, which not only boosts the energy state of photo-generated charge carriers, but also accelerates the separation and migration of electrons and holes. Additionally, the porous water transport channels of Cu@C-N within Cu@C-N@ZnIn 2 S 4 composite facilitate the rapid diffusion of water molecules, allowing more effective interaction with active sites and further enhancing H 2 production efficiency. This work highlights the synergistic effects of LSPR and porous water transport in significantly improving solar to H 2 production, offering new design strategies for high-performance photothermal-assisted photocatalysts.