Recent progress of low-dimensional metal sulfides photocatalysts for energy and environmental applications

Due to the unique structure and electronic properties of low-dimensional materials, enormous potential can be achieved over low-dimensional materials for high-efficiency photocatalytic activity. Metal sulfide semiconductors with abundant optionality of various metal element, multi metal combination and ratio regulation shows favorable electronic structure adjustability. This review summarizes recent advances in the design, tuning and photocatalytic applications of low-dimensional metal sulfides. We start with the introduction of multifarious types of low-dimensional metal sulfides photocatalysts, including binary metal sulfides (such as CdS, ZnS, MoS2, SnS, SnS2, Bi2S3, In2S3, CuS, ReS2), ternary metal sulfides (such as In4SnS8, ZnIn2S4, CdIn2S4, CuInS2, CuIn5S8) and others (such as Cu-Zn-In-S, Cu-Zn-Ga-S, CuInP2S6, AgInP2S6). Then, the tuning strategies to improve the photocatalytic performance of low-dimensional metal sulfides have been summarized with the emphasis on structure–performance correlation, such as facet engineering, exposure of active edges, elemental doping, defect engineering, co-catalyst loading, single atom engineering, polarization enhancement and junction construction. The advancements in versatile photocatalytic applications of low-dimensional metal sulfides–based photocatalysts in the areas of environmental purification, water splitting, CO2 reduction, N2 reduction and organic synthesis are discussed. Finally, we end this review with a look into the opportunities and challenges of low-dimensional metal sulfides in future study. © 2023 The Author(s)