Noble metal-free 0D-1D CoOx/Mn0.3Cd0.7S nanocomposites for efficient visible-light hydrogen production

Here, a series of Mn x Cd 1-x S sosoloid composite photocatalysts with visible-light activity were first prepared by a solvothermal process. The element ratio of Cd 2+ to Mn 2+ was optimized to be Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S in Mn x Cd 1-x S sosoloid on account of its photocatalytic activity for H 2 evolution from H 2 O in response to visible light excitation . And on this basis, the CoO x nanopariticles were loaded on the surface of Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S sosoloid composite to obtain a binary p-n heterojunction of CoO x /Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S composite through a facile impregnation process and a high temperature sintering procedure. Benefitting from the synergistic effect of the built-in electric field, binary p-n heterojunction structure, and rearrange of the Fermi level equilibrium, the as-synthesized CoO x /Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S composite presents a highly enhanced photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production from H 2 O in response to visible light excitation, which is demonstrated to be 53.4 and 4.0 times higher than that of the primitive CdS and Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S, respectively. Furthermore, after 4 times circles of photocatalytic H 2 production tests, the CoO x /Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S composite still keeps 92.0 % of the original photocatalytic activity. Considering its reasonable photochemistry stability and excellent photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution from H 2 O under with visible light excitation, the as-synthesized CoO x /Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S composite has potential applications in solar hydrogen production areas.