Structural diversity and photocurrent responses of multi-component chalcogenidometalates

Multi-component chalcogenidometalates have garnered significant attention due to their promising applications in solar energy conversion devices, including photodetectors, solar cells, and photocatalysts. Photocurrent response is not only a fundamental property of photodetectors but also serves as a key indicator of the solar energy conversion efficiency in potential semiconductor devices. Despite the growing interest, a clear and universal guideline for designing chalcogenide materials with excellent photocurrent response remains elusive, primarily due to the substantial variations in their chemical compositions and crystal structures. In this review, we present a comprehensive compilation of reported multi-component chalcogenidometalates, including main group chalcogenides with binary and ternary anionic frameworks, and discuss their photocurrent response performance. Additionally, we also highlight other special chalcogenide systems, focusing on their photocurrent response characteristics. For the first time, we systematically summarize the intricate relationships between chemical composition, crystal structure, electronic band structure, and photocurrent response in these materials. Finally, we believe that this review provides a valuable structural perspective on the photocurrent response of multi-component chalcogenidometalates, offering useful insights for the design and application of advanced solar energy conversion materials.