Ag–ZnO hybrid nanopyramids for high visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production performance

• Ag–ZnO nanocomposite was successfully obtained by a seed-mediated method.
• Ag seed was employed to induce the formation of pyramid-like ZnO nanocrystal.
• Coupling of Ag with ZnO can greatly enhance the photocatalytic activity of ZnO.

We successfully prepared Ag–ZnO hybrid nanocrystals (NCs) with unique “pyramid” morphology via a seed-mediated method. With Ag NCs as “seed”, Ag–ZnO hybrid NCs with a novel hexagonal pyramid-like structure were prepared. We found that dye sensitized Ag–ZnO hybrid NCs exhibited excellent photocatalytic activities under visible light.