Anchoring MoS2 on ZnCdS to accelerate charge migration to promote photocatalytic water decomposition performance

Abstract

The availability of low-cost precious metal-free photocatalysts is critical for sustainable and large-scale hydrogen production. Constructing heterojunctions is considered as an effective strategy to enhance the transfer/separation of photo-induced charges. Nanoflower structures of ZnCdS can significantly enhance light absorption and increase the specific surface area available for reactions involving photo-generated carriers. Herein, MoS are attached to ZnCdS nanoflowers through electrostatic adsorption, forming a ZnCdS-MoS composite photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Under visible light irradiation, the ZCS-MoS-8 % photocatalyst demonstrates an impressive photocatalytic HER rate of 42.07 mmol·h·g, which is 5.8 times higher than that of the pure ZnCdS photocatalyst (outperforming many reported results). The MoS nanocrystals greatly benefit the transfer of photoinduced electrons to ZnCdS for proton reduction and facilitate the transfer of holes for water oxidation. The constructed ZnCdS-MoS photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution shows promising chemical and economic value.