Highly effective pyroelectric catalysis for hydrogen production by sulfur vacancy rich Bi2S3 nanosheets

Pyroelectric catalysis has emerged as a promising approach for sustainable hydrogen generation, yet its efficiency is often constrained by limited charge separation and poor thermal energy conversion. Sulfur vacancies introduce defect energy levels within the bandgap, significantly broadening the light absorption into the near-infrared region. This enhancement in light harvesting effectively improves the photothermal conversion efficiency, thereby creating a stronger driving force for the pyroelectric effect. Furthermore, lattice distortion induced by vacancies creates localized polarization centers, which leads to a remarkable improvement in the pyroelectric response of Bi 2 S 3 -V S . The COMSOL simulation results demonstrate a nonlinear correlation between temperature gradient fluctuations and the generated pyroelectric potential. This work provides fundamental insights into defect-mediated pyroelectric effects and offers a viable strategy for designing efficient pyroelectric catalysts through rational defect engineering.