Facet effect of copper(I) sulfide nanocrystals on photoelectrochemical properties

14-facets polyhedra chalcocite Cu2S nanocrystals were synthesized by a solvothermal method. It was found that the presence of trio-n-octylphosphine during the synthesis was essential for the exposure of unconventional {110} faces. Results from photoelectrochemical measurements indicated that the polyhedra bounded by {110} facets exhibited much higher activities than the Cu2S hexagonal plates with only {001} facets.