Composition-Controlled CdS/ZnS Heterostructure Nanocomposites for Efficient Visible Light Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.9b03764
• Publication Date: 2019-11-27T12:52:37Z
• Authors: Joyjit Kundu; Biraj Kanta Satpathy; Debabrata Pradhan
• Keywords: Nanorod; Visible spectrum; Charge carrier

To overcome the increasing energy demand worldwide, semiconductor-based photocatalytic H2 production by water splitting has gained much recognition as an alternative approach. However, main drawbacks are lower visible light absorption and rapid recombination of photogenerated electrons–hole pairs in photocatalysts. This work reports synthesis CdS/ZnS heterostructures with varied compositions each component via a single-step solvothermal method calcination under vacuum. An optimized (CdS)0.4/(ZnS)0.6 composite exhibits highest generation rate 830.95 μmol g–1 h–1, which is significantly higher than those CdS nanorods (254.17 h–1) ZnS nanoplates (9.59 h–1). The for corresponds to better well efficient charge separation heterostructure. photoelectrochemical study also confirms effective Based on these results, probable mechanism suggested from