Solar energy utilization technologies have been widely explored to solve the global energy crisis because the inexhaustible solar energy can be converted into chemical fuel and electricity. Various semiconductors that are crucial for solar energy utilization have been extensively developed. Among them, cadmium sulfide (CdS) has attracted extensive attention due to its suitable band-gap and excellent electrical/optical properties. However, CdS is still limited by rapid charge recombination, instability and low quantum efficiency. Core-shell structures can provide great opportunities for constructing advanced structures with superior properties to overcome the remaining challenges. This review focuses on the significant advances in core-shell structured CdS nanocomposites for solar energy utilization. Initially, the synthetic methods to construct core-shell structured CdS nanocomposites are reviewed. Then the applications in solar energy utilization are discussed, including photocatalytic\photoelectrochemical water splitting, photocatalytic CO₂ reduction and solar cells. Finally, the perspectives of core-shell structured CdS nanocomposites for solar energy utilization are proposed.

由于不竭的太阳能可以转化为化学燃料和电力，因此人们广泛探索了太阳能利用技术来解决全球能源危机。对于太阳能利用至关重要的各种半导体已经被广泛开发。其中，硫化镉（CdS）因其合适的带隙和出色的电/光学性能而受到广泛关注。但是，CdS仍然受到快速电荷复合，不稳定性和低量子效率的限制。核壳结构可以为建造具有卓越性能的高级结构提供巨大的机会，以克服剩余的挑战。这项审查集中在核壳结构CdS纳米复合材料在太阳能利用方面的重大进展。原来，综述了构建核壳结构CdS纳米复合材料的合成方法。然后讨论了在太阳能利用中的应用，包括光催化\光电化学水分解，光催化CO₂还原和太阳能电池。最后，提出了核壳结构的CdS纳米复合材料用于太阳能利用的观点。