Photothermal-assisted magnetic recoverable Cd0.9Zn0.1S/NiCoB heterojunction with extraordinary photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Easily recyclable photocatalysts hold great potential in the field of photocatalysis. Guided by rational theoretical predictions, this study designs a novel tetrapod-like Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S/NiCoB (CZS/NCB) Schottky heterojunction with magnetic and photothermal properties, and demonstrates its excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance. Under the combined effects of the photothermal properties and the Schottky heterojunction, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate extraordinarily reaches 108.39 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ after 3 h of visible light irradiation, which is 4.69 times that of pure CZS. Additionally, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution tests conducted using infrared thermography and alternating visible and visible plus infrared light irradiation have confirmed the material’s outstanding photothermal properties. In-depth density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal potential charge transfer pathways and confirm the formation of the Schottky heterojunction. This work provides guidance for the rational construction of magnetic recoverable photocatalysts with practical application.