Metal-organic frameworks derived porous MoS2/CdS heterostructure for efficient photocatalytic performance towards hydrogen evolution and organic pollutants

Photocatalytic technology is a unique method of treating energy crisis and environmental concern. Herein, Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were employed to prepare a series of visible light responsive MoS 2 /CdS heterojunction photocatalysts by facile low-temperature hydrothermal sulfurization . The structural analysis revealed that the prepared MoS 2 /CdS heterojunction exhibited highly porous structure and the intimate interface was formed between the MoS 2 and CdS. For these structure features, the charge separation and transfer were significantly improved, and the MoS 2 /CdS heterojunction presented efficient photocatalytic activity towards hydrogen evolution and degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). The highest H 2 evolution rate (3318 μmol h −1  g −1 ) was found at the 5 wt%-MoS 2 /CdS, which were 10 times and 6 times of pristine MoS 2 and CdS, respectively. In particular, the 5 wt%-MoS 2 /CdS can also remove 95% RhB and 90% TC within 40 min. Moreover, the MoS 2 /CdS heterojunction showed good photocatalytic stability for hydrogen evolution and degradation of RhB and TC. Furthermore, the radical trapping experiment revealed that the photogenerated · O 2 − played critical role in RhB degradation and the hole (h + ) and · O 2 − were essential for TC degradation. The work will provide a guidance for rational design and facile preparation of photocatalyst for the visible light-driven hydrogen evolution and elimination of organic pollutants.