Metal/semiconductor interfaces in nanoscale objects: synthesis, emerging properties and applications of hybrid nanostructures

Photocatalytic Semiconductor-Metal Hybrid Nanoparticles: Single-Atom Catalyst Regime Surpasses Metal Tips

Semiconductor-metal hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) are promising materials for photocatalytic applications, such as water splitting for green hydrogen generation. While most studies have focused on Cd containing HNPs, the realization of actual applications will require environmentally compatible systems. Using heavy-metal free ZnSe-Au HNPs as a model, we investigate the dependence of their functionality and efficiency on the cocatalyst metal domain characteristics ranging from the single-atom catalyst (SAC) regime to metal-tipped systems. The SAC regime was achieved via the deposition of individual atomic cocatalysts on the semiconductor nanocrystals in solution. Utilizing a combination of electron microscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we established the presence of single Au atoms on the ZnSe nanorod surface. Upon increased Au concentration, this transitions to metal tip growth. Photocatalytic hydrogen generation measurements reveal a strong dependence on the cocatalyst loading with a sharp response maximum in the SAC regime. Ultrafast dynamics studies show similar electron decay kinetics for the pristine ZnSe nanorods and the ZnSe-Au HNPs in either SAC or tipped systems. This indicates that electron transfer is not the rate-limiting step for the photocatalytic process. Combined with the structural-chemical characterization, we conclude that the enhanced photocatalytic activity is due to the higher reactivity of the single-atom sites. This holistic view establishes the significance of SAC-HNPs, setting the stage for designing efficient and sustainable heavy-metal-free photocatalyst nanoparticles for numerous applications.

Heteronanotrimers by Selective Photodeposition of Gold Nanodots on Janus-Type Cu2‒ xS/CuInS2 Heteronanocrystals

This study focuses on the development of environmentally friendly Au-Cu2-xS/CuInS2 heteronanotrimers. The chosen strategy relies on the laser photodeposition of a single gold nanodot (ND) onto Janus Cu2- xS/CuInS2 heteronanocrystals (HNCs). This method offers precise control over the number, location, and size (5 to 8 nm) of the Au NDs by adjusting laser power for the career production, concentration of hole scavenger for charge equilibration in redox reactions, and gold precursor concentration, and exposure time for the final ND size. The photoreduction of gold ions onto HNCs starts systematically at the Cu2- xS tip. The Au deposition then depends on the CuInS2 segment length. For short HNCs, stable Au-Cu2- xS/CuInS2 heteronanotrimers form, while long HNCs undergo a secondary photo-induced step: the initial Au ND is progressively oxidized, with concomitant deposition of a second gold ND on the CuInS2 side, to yield Au2S-Cu2- xS/CuInS2-Au heteronanotrimers. Results are rationalized by quantitative comparison with a model that describes the growth kinetics of NDs and Au-Cu2- xS transformation and emphasizes the importance of charge separation in predicting selective deposition in heteronanotrimer production. The key parameter controlling Au-Cu2‒ xS/CuInS2 HNCs is the photoinduced electric field gradient generated by charge separation, which is tailored by controlling the CuInS2 segment size.

A partial oxidation-based approach to the synthesis of gold-magnetite hybrid nanostructures

Hybrid nanostructures composed of gold and magnetite are of singular interest because they allow the integration of plasmonic and magnetic properties in a single object. Due to this feature, their application has been proposed to perform various functions. The methods usually employed to prepare these particular kinds of nanostructures follow organic phase routes, whereas synthetic methodologies that employ more sustainable solvents have been much less explored. In this work, an environmentally friendly approach for the synthesis of gold-magnetite hybrid nanostructures in aqueous media is proposed. This approach relies on the partial oxidation of the Fe(II) precursor using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidizing agent in the presence of preformed gold nanoparticles dispersed in the reaction medium. The methodology used led to the formation of magnetite nanoparticles with a good stoichiometry and a median size of 30 nm. Furthermore, in the presence of gold nanoparticles in the reaction medium, the formation of gold-magnetite hybrid nanostructures is produced as a consequence of the heterogeneous nucleation of the iron oxide phase on the surface of the gold nanoparticles that act as seeds. The approach reported broadens the possibility of synthesizing hybrid nanostructures in aqueous media with integrated plasmonic and magnetic properties.

Unconventional Synthesis of Metal (Ni, Co, Ag) Antimony Alloy Particles

Bimetallic alloy materials attract interest owing to their properties and stability compared to pure metals, especially alloys with nanoscale dimensions. Metal antimony (MSb) alloys, specifically NiSb, are widely used for charge storage applications due to their high stability. Most synthetic approaches to form these materials require drastic conditions (e.g., high temperatures, potent reducing agents, and extended reaction times), limiting control over the final morphology. The other viable approach is a galvanic replacement that uses unstable materials as precursors. In this work, we present a new and facile method to prepare several MSb (M = Ni, Co, Ag) alloys with shape control by reacting Sb2S3 particles with a metal(M)-sulfide single source precursor in trioctylphosphine (TOP) under mild conditions. Furthermore, we explore the role of TOP as a reducing agent and demonstrate how both alloy constituents are crucial for mutual stabilization. Electrochemical studies are also performed on these NiSb particles, showing their ambipolar nature and allowing their utilization as the active ingredient in the demonstrated high-energy-density symmetric supercapacitor.

Insights into the Synthesis Mechanisms of Ag-Cu3P-GaP Multicomponent Nanoparticles

Metal-semiconductor nanoparticle heterostructures are exciting materials for photocatalytic applications. Phase and facet engineering are critical for designing highly efficient catalysts. Therefore, understanding processes occurring during the nanostructure synthesis is crucial to gain control over properties such as the surface and interface facets' orientations, morphology, and crystal structure. However, the characterization of nanostructures after the synthesis makes clarifying their formation mechanisms nontrivial and sometimes even impossible. In this study, we used an environmental transmission electron microscope with an integrated metal-organic chemical vapor deposition system to enlighten fundamental dynamic processes during the Ag-Cu3P-GaP nanoparticle synthesis using Ag-Cu3P seed particles. Our results reveal that the GaP phase nucleated at the Cu3P surface, and growth proceeded via a topotactic reaction involving counter-diffusion of Cu+ and Ga3+ cations. After the initial GaP growth steps, the Ag and Cu3P phases formed specific interfaces with the GaP growth front. GaP growth proceeded by a similar mechanism observed for the nucleation involving the diffusion of Cu atoms through/along the Ag phase toward other regions, followed by the redeposition of Cu3P at a specific Cu3P crystal facet, not in contact with the GaP phase. The Ag phase was essential for this process by acting as a medium enabling the efficient transport of Cu atoms away from and, simultaneously, Ga atoms toward the GaP-Cu3P interface. This study shows that enlightening fundamental processes is critical for progress in synthesizing phase- and facet-engineered multicomponent nanoparticles with tailored properties for specific applications, including catalysis.

Developing extended visible light responsive polymeric carbon nitrides for photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic applications

Polymeric carbon nitride (CN) has emerged as an attractive material for photocatalysis and photoelectronic devices. However, the synthesis of porous CNs with controlled structural and optical properties remains a challenge, and processable CN precursors are still highly sought after for fabricating homogenous CN layers strongly bound to a given substrate. Here, we report a general method to synthesize highly dispersed porous CN materials that show excellent photocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction and good performance as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical cells (PEC): first, supramolecular assemblies of melem and melamine in ethylene glycol and water are prepared using a hydrothermal process. These precursors are then calcined to yield a water-dispersible CN photocatalyst that exhibits beneficial charge separation under illumination, extended visible-light response attributed to carbon doping, and a large number of free amine groups that act as preferential sites for a Pt cocatalyst. The optimized CN exhibits state-of-the-art HER rates up to 23.1 mmol h^-1 g^-1, with an AQE of 19.2% at 395 nm. This unique synthetic route enables the formation of a homogeneous precursor paste for substrate casting; consequently, the CN photoanode exhibits a low onset potential, a high photocurrent density and good stability after calcination.

Theory of Anisotropic Metal Nanostructures

A significant challenge in the development of functional materials is understanding the growth and transformations of anisotropic colloidal metal nanocrystals. Theory and simulations can aid in the development and understanding of anisotropic nanocrystal syntheses. The focus of this review is on how results from first-principles calculations and classical techniques, such as Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations, have been integrated into multiscale theoretical predictions useful in understanding shape-selective nanocrystal syntheses. Also, examples are discussed in which machine learning has been useful in this field. There are many areas at the frontier in condensed matter theory and simulation that are or could be beneficial in this area and these prospects for future progress are discussed.

Ion Beam Milling as a Symmetry-Breaking Control in the Synthesis of Periodic Arrays of Identically Aligned Bimetallic Janus Nanocrystals

Bimetallic Janus nanostructures represent a highly functional class of nanomaterials due to important physicochemical properties stemming from the union of two chemically distinct metal segments where each maintains a partially exposed surface. Essential to their synthesis is the incorporation of a symmetry-breaking control that is able to induce the regioselective deposition of a secondary metal onto a preexisting nanostructure even though such depositions are, more often than not, in opposition to the innate tendencies of heterogeneous growth modes. Numerous symmetry-breaking controls have been forwarded but the ensuing Janus structure syntheses have not yet achieved anywhere near the same level of control over nanostructure size, shape, and composition as their core-shell and single-element counterparts. Herein, a collimated ion beam is demonstrated as a symmetry-breaking control that allows for the selective removal of a passivating oxide shell from one side of a metal nanostructure to create a configuration that is transformable into a substrate-bound Au-Ag Janus nanostructure. Two different modalities are demonstrated for achieving Janus structures where in one case the oxide dissolves in the growth solution while in the other it remains affixed to form a three-component system. The devised procedures distinguish themselves in their ability to realize complex Janus architectures arranged in periodic arrays where each structure has the same alignment relative to the underlying substrate. The work, hence, provides an avenue for forming precisely tailored Janus structures and, in a broader sense, advances the use of oxides as an effective means for directing nanometal syntheses.

Rich Landscape of Colloidal Semiconductor-Metal Hybrid Nanostructures: Synthesis, Synergetic Characteristics, and Emerging Applications

Nanochemistry provides powerful synthetic tools allowing one to combine different materials on a single nanostructure, thus unfolding numerous possibilities to tailor their properties toward diverse functionalities. Herein, we review the progress in the field of semiconductor-metal hybrid nanoparticles (HNPs) focusing on metal-chalcogenides-metal combined systems. The fundamental principles of their synthesis are discussed, leading to a myriad of possible hybrid architectures including Janus zero-dimensional quantum dot-based systems and anisotropic quasi 1D nanorods and quasi-2D platelets. The properties of HNPs are described with particular focus on emergent synergetic characteristics. Of these, the light-induced charge-separation effect across the semiconductor-metal nanojunction is of particular interest as a basis for the utilization of HNPs in photocatalytic applications. The extensive studies on the charge-separation behavior and its dependence on the HNPs structural characteristics, environmental and chemical conditions, and light excitation regime are surveyed. Combining the advanced synthetic control with the charge-separation effect has led to demonstration of various applications of HNPs in different fields. A particular promise lies in their functionality as photocatalysts for a variety of uses, including solar-to-fuel conversion, as a new type of photoinitiator for photopolymerization and 3D printing, and in novel chemical and biomedical uses.

Synthetic Approaches to Colloidal Nanocrystal Heterostructures Based on Metal and Metal-Oxide Materials

Composite inorganic nanoarchitectures, based on combinations of distinct materials, represent advanced solid-state constructs, where coexistence and synergistic interactions among nonhomologous optical, magnetic, chemical, and catalytic properties lay a basis for the engineering of enhanced or even unconventional functionalities. Such systems thus hold relevance for both theoretical and applied nanotechnology-based research in diverse areas, spanning optics, electronics, energy management, (photo)catalysis, biomedicine, and environmental remediation. Wet-chemical colloidal synthetic techniques have now been refined to the point of allowing the fabrication of solution free-standing and easily processable multicomponent nanocrystals with sophisticated modular heterostructure, built upon a programmed spatial distribution of the crystal phase, composition, and anchored surface moieties. Such last-generation breeds of nanocrystals are thus composed of nanoscale domains of different materials, assembled controllably into core/shell or heteromer-type configurations through bonding epitaxial heterojunctions. This review offers a critical overview of achievements made in the design and synthetic elaboration of colloidal nanocrystal heterostructures based on diverse associations of transition metals (with emphasis on plasmonic metals) and transition-metal oxides. Synthetic strategies, all leveraging on the basic seed-mediated approach, are described and discussed with reference to the most credited mechanisms underpinning regioselective heteroepitaxial deposition. The unique properties and advanced applications allowed by such brand-new nanomaterials are also mentioned.

Light-Harvesting Novel Hierarchical Porous Cu9S5-MnWO4 Hybrid Structures in Photocatalytic Oxidative Homocoupling of Alkynes and Amines

The discovery of light-harvesting materials for use in photocatalytic organic reactions has recently attracted attention, indicating the potential for utilizing renewable energy sources. A hybrid semiconductor (SC)-SC structure, Cu₉S₅-MnWO₄, was synthesized using a simple, efficient method. The novel hierarchical porous Cu₉S₅-MnWO₄ hybrid structures were then applied in the photocatalysis of oxidative homocoupling of alkynes and amines. The design of a heterogeneous catalyst based on a porous, SC-SC hybrid structure and low-cost Cu should generate interest in the fabrication and modification of photocatalysts for a wide range of applications.

Surface plasmon-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting of a Ag/TiO2 nanoplate photoanode

A silver/titanium dioxide nanoplate (Ag/TiO2 NP) photoelectrode was designed and fabricated from vertically aligned TiO2 nanoplates (NP) decorated with silver nanoparticles (NPs) through a simple hydrothermal synthesis and electrodeposition route. The electrodeposition times of Ag NPs on the TiO2 NP were crucial for surface plasmon-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting performance. The Ag/TiO2 NP at the optimal deposition time of 5 min with a Ag element content of 0.53 wt% demonstrated a remarkably high photocurrent density of 0.35 mA cm-2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE under AM 1.5G illumination, which was 5 fold higher than that of the pristine TiO2 NP. It was clear that the enhanced light absorption properties and PEC performance for Ag/TiO2 NP could be effectively adjusted by simply controlling the loading amounts of metallic Ag NPs (average size of 10-30 nm) at different electrodeposition times. The superior PEC performance of the Ag/TiO2 NP photoanode was attributed to the synergistic effects of the plasmonic Ag NPs and the TiO2 nanoplate. Interestingly, the plasmonic effect of Ag NPs not only increased the visible-light response (λ max = 570 nm) of TiO2 but also provided hot electrons to promote photocurrent generation and suppress charge recombination. Importantly, this study offers a potentially efficient strategy for the design and fabrication of a new type of TiO2 hybrid nanostructure with a plasmonic enhancement for PEC water splitting.

Magnetic Relaxation Switching Immunoassay Based on Hydrogen Peroxide-Mediated Assembly of Ag@Au-Fe3 O4 Nanoprobe for Detection of Aflatoxin B1

Magnetic relaxation switching (MRS) sensors have shown great potential in food safety monitoring due to their high signal-to-noise ratio and simplicity, but they often suffer from insufficient sensitivity and stability due to the lack of excellent magnetic nanoprobes. Herein, dumbbell-like Au-Fe₃ O₄ nanoparticles are designed as magnetic nanoprobes for developing an aflatoxin B1-MRS immunosensor. The Fe₃ O₄ portion in the Au-Fe₃ O₄ nanoparticles functions as the magnetic probe to provide transverse relaxation signals, while the Au segments serve as a bridge to grow Ag shell and assemble the Au-Fe₃ O₄ nanoparticles, thus modulating transverse relaxation time of surrounding water molecular. The formation of Ag@Au-Fe₃ O₄ is triggered by hydrogen peroxide. After degraded by horseradish peroxidase, hydrogen peroxide reduces Ag⁺ to Ag nanoparticles which assemble dispersed Au-Fe₃ O₄ to aggregated Ag@Au-Fe₃ O₄ , thus dramatically improving the sensitivity of traditional MRS sensor. Combined with competitive immunoreaction, this Ag@Au-Fe₃ O₄ -MRS immunosensor can detect aflatoxin B1 with a high sensitivity (3.81 pg mL^-1 ), which improved about 21 folds and 9 folds than those of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. The good consistency with HPLC in real samples detection indicates the good accuracy of this immunosensor. This Ag@Au-Fe₃ O₄ -MRS immunosensor offers an attractive tool for detection of harmful substances.

Dynamics of the nanocrystal structure and composition in growth solutions monitored by in situ lab-scale X-ray diffraction

In situ characterization of nanoparticle (NP) growth has become the state-of-the-art approach for studying their growth mechanisms; there is broad consensus on the reliability and precision of in situ characterization techniques compared to more traditional ex situ ones. Nonetheless, most of the currently available methods require the use of sophisticated setups such as synchrotron-based X-ray sources or an environmental liquid transmission electron microscopy (TEM) cell, which are expensive and not readily accessible. Herein, we suggest a new approach to study NP growth mechanisms: using a commercially available heating chamber for time-resolved X-ray diffraction (TR-XRD) measurements of NP growth in solution. We demonstrate how this lab-scale in situ XRD can be used to study NP growth mechanisms when complemented by standard ex situ techniques such as TEM and UV-vis spectroscopy. TR-XRD reveals the crystallographic phase and real-time evolution of NP size, shape, and composition. A detailed analysis allows determining the growth mechanism and measuring the alloying kinetics of multinary nanocrystals, demonstrated herein for a colloidal Cd_xZn_1-xS system. This approach proves itself as a promising strategy for NP growth research and could be expanded to related fields that study dynamic changes as the formation and evolution of crystalline materials in solutions.

Nanomolding of Gold and Gold-Silicon Heterostructures at Room Temperature

Nanofabrication techniques are limited by at least one of the required characteristics such as choice of material, control over geometry, fabrication requirements, yield, cost, and scalability. Our previously developed method of thermomechanical nanomolding fulfills these requirements, although it requires high processing temperatures. Here, we demonstrate low-temperature molding where we utilize the enhanced diffusivity on "eutectic interfaces". Gold nanorods are molded at room temperature using Au-Si alloy as feedstock. Instead of using alloy feedstock, these "eutectic interfaces" can also be established through a feedstock-mold combination. We demonstrate this by using pure Au as feedstock, which is molded into Si molds at room temperature, and also the reverse, Si feedstock is molded into Au molds forming high aspect ratio Au-Si core-shell nanorods. We discuss the mechanism of this low-temperature nanomolding in terms of lower homologous temperature at the eutectic interface. This technique, based on enhanced eutectic interface diffusion, provides a practical nanofabrication method that eliminates the previous high-temperature requirements, thereby expanding the range of the materials that can be practically nanofabricated.

Hole Scavenging and Electron-Hole Pair Photoproduction Rate: Two Mandatory Key Factors to Control Single-Tip Au-CdSe/CdS Nanoheterodimers

Metal/semiconductor hetero-nanostructures are now considered as benchmark functional nanomaterials for many light-driven applications. Using laser-driven photodeposition to control growth of gold nanodots (NDs) onto CdSe/CdS dot-in-rods (DRs), we show that the addition of a dedicated hole scavenger (MeOH) is the cornerstone to significantly reduce to less than 3.5% the multiple-site nucleation and 2.5% the rate of gold-free DRs. This means, from a synthetic point of view, that rates up to 90% of single-tip DRs can be reproducibly achieved. Moreover, by systematically varying this hole scavenger concentration and the Au/DRs ratio on the one hand, and the irradiation intensity and the time exposure on the other hand, we explain how gold deposition switches from multisite to single-tipped and how the growth and final size of the single photodeposited ND can be controlled. A model also establishes that the results obtained based on these different varying conditions can be merged onto a single "master behavior" that summarizes and predicts the single-tip gold ND growth onto the CdSe/CdS DRs. We eventually use data from the literature on growth of platinum NDs onto CdS nanorods by laser-deposition to extend our investigation to another metal of major interest and strengthen our modeling of single metallic ND growth onto II-VI semiconducting nanoparticles. This demonstrated strategy can raise a common methodology in the synthesis of single-tip semiconductor-metal hybrid nanoheterodimers (NHDs), leading to advanced nanoparticles architectures for applications in areas as different as photocatalysis, hydrogen production, photovoltaics, and light detection.

Connecting Cation Exchange and Metal Deposition Outcomes via Hume-Rothery-Like Design Rules Using Copper Selenide Nanoparticles

Heterogenous nanomaterials containing various inorganic phases have far-reaching impacts both from the physical phenomena they reveal and the technologies they enable. While the variety and impact of these materials has been demonstrated in many reports, there is critical ambiguity in the factors that lead to major bifurcations in developing these heterostructures, for example, the formation of either mixed metal semiconductors or segregated metal-semiconductor phases. Here, we compare outcomes of independently introducing 5 different metal cations (Au³⁺, Ag⁺, Hg²⁺, Pd²⁺, and Pt²⁺) to antifluorite copper selenide (Cu_2-xSe) nanoparticles (diameter = 52 ± 5 nm). This suite of metal cations allowed us to control for and evaluate a variety of potentially competing intrinsic system parameters including metal cation size, valency, and reduction potential as well as lattice volume change, lattice formation energy, and lattice mismatch. Upon secondary metal addition, we determined that the transformation of a cubic Cu_2-xSe lattice will occur via cation exchange reaction when the change in symmetry to the resulting metal selenide phase(s) preserves mutually orthogonal lattice vectors. However, if the new lattice symmetry would be disrupted further, metal deposition is the likely outcome of secondary metal cation addition, forming metal-semiconductor heterostructures. These results suggest a synthesis design rule that relies on an intrinsic property of the material, not the reaction pathway, and indicates that more such factors may be found in other particle and synthetic systems.

Fabrication of antireflective silver-capped tin oxide nano-obelisk arrays as high sensitive SERS substrate

Hybrid noble metal-semiconductor oxide nanostructures often provide unique and synergetic functionalities that are highly desirable in various practical applications. However, the fabrication of such systems with desired functionalities using cost-effective techniques is still a great challenge. In this work, we report a facile route for the preparation of novel Ag/SnO₂ nano-obelisk arrayed thin films on silicon substrates by spray pyrolysis and thermal evaporation techniques. The prepared samples exhibited broadband antireflectance in both UV and visible regions attributed to the refractive index gradient and scattering provided by the nano-obelisk arrays. The localised surface plasmon resonance of silver nanocaps further enhanced the light absorption contributing to the antireflective property of the hybrid system. Ag/SnO₂ nano-obelisk arrayed thin film exhibited excellent SERS performance with an enhancement factor of 1.13 × 10⁸ with a limit of detection value of 10^-12 M for the trace detection of R6G dye. In addition, Ag/SnO₂ nano-obelisk arrayed thin film based SERS substrate exhibited good homogeneity across the measured spots and outstanding stability which are essential for quantitative field analysis. The results indicate that the Ag/SnO₂ nano-obelisk arrayed thin films are efficient SERS substrates with the merits of having the ease of production, high sensitivity and stability for various practical sensing applications.

Investigation of dual plasmonic core-shell Ag@CuS nanoparticles for potential surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy-guided photothermal therapy

Aim: To prepare efficient metal-semiconductor nanoparticles as noninvasive, real-time imaging probes for photothermal therapy (PTT) applications. Materials & methods: A bottom-up approach was used to fabricate core-shell Ag@CuS nanoparticles (NPs). PTT and Raman mapping were done using HeLa cells. Theoretical simulation of electric field enhancement and heat dissipation density of Ag@CuS NPs was performed. Results: PTT-induced hyperthermia was achieved under 940 nm near-infrared light irradiation. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) signals of dye molecules were observed when conjugated with Ag@CuS NPs. Conclusion: Ag@CuS NPs are found to be efficient for SERS imaging and localized heating under laser irradiation, making a promising candidate for SERS-guided PTT.

Recent Advances in the Design and Photocatalytic Enhanced Performance of Gold Plasmonic Nanostructures Decorated with Non-Titania Based Semiconductor Hetero-Nanoarchitectures

Plasmonic photocatalysts combining metallic nanoparticles and semiconductors have been aimed as versatile alternatives to drive light-assisted catalytic chemical reactions beyond the ultraviolet (UV) regions, and overcome one of the major drawbacks of the most exploited photocatalysts (TiO2 or ZnO). The strong size and morphology dependence of metallic nanostructures to tune their visible to near-infrared (vis-NIR) light harvesting capabilities has been combined with the design of a wide variety of architectures for the semiconductor supports to promote the selective activity of specific crystallographic facets. The search for efficient heterojunctions has been subjected to numerous studies, especially those involving gold nanostructures and titania semiconductors. In the present review, we paid special attention to the most recent advances in the design of gold-semiconductor hetero-nanostructures including emerging metal oxides such as cerium oxide or copper oxide (CeO2 or Cu2O) or metal chalcogenides such as copper sulfide or cadmium sulfides (CuS or CdS). These alternative hybrid materials were thoroughly built in past years to target research fields of strong impact, such as solar energy conversion, water splitting, environmental chemistry, or nanomedicine. Herein, we evaluate the influence of tuning the morphologies of the plasmonic gold nanostructures or the semiconductor interacting structures, and how these variations in geometry, either individual or combined, have a significant influence on the final photocatalytic performance.