Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Activity Driven by TiO2/(MoP/CdS): Insights from Powder Particles to Thin Films

Abstract

Transitioning from powder photocatalysts to thin film photocatalysts is one of the necessary steps toward industrializing photocatalytic hydrogen production. Herein, we reported the integration of non-noble metal cocatalyst MoP decorated with TiO₂ and CdS, forming TiO₂/(MoP/CdS) for ultraviolet–visible light utilization. The designed powder TiO₂/(MoP/CdS) composites achieved a superior hydrogen production rate of 42.2 mmol g^–1 h^–1, which is 30.1 times that of TiO₂/CdS, performing the highest activity among the TiO₂-CdS-based composite photocatalysts. Moreover, we fabricated a thin film from TiO₂/(MoP/CdS) powder, which exhibited comparable photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production, achieving 35.5 mmol g^–1 h^–1 and maintaining long-term stability for 150 h. The outstanding performance was attributed to the ability of the TiO₂/(MoP/CdS) composite photocatalysts to absorb both visible and ultraviolet light. Additionally, the heterojunction formed between TiO₂ and CdS also played a significant role in the overall photocatalyst activity. This cost-effective catalyst holds promise for future large-scale industrial applications.