One-step synthesis of 2D/2D gC3N4/MoS2 composites for effective photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Two-dimensional (2D) heterostructures have proven their efficiency in separating charges. Herein, a gC 3 N 4 /MoS 2 (CN/MoS 2 ) photocatalyst, in the form of 2D/2D van der Waals heterojunction with a type-II band alignment, was synthesized using a novel one-step method. The resulting in-situ formed heterojunction interface enhances electron transfer from gC 3 N 4 to MoS 2 . The CN/MoS 2 photocatalyst exhibits exceptional activity in generating hydrogen from water under simulated solar light. Its hydrogen production rate was 1285 μmol/h/g, which was approximately 3 times higher compared to gC 3 N 4 . This superiority is due to a significant increase in photogenerated carrier density and efficient charge separation facilitated by the type-II heterojunction. This study demonstrates a straightforward one-step approach for synthesizing 2D/2D composite photocatalysts, highlighting the effective synergy between different 2D materials in promoting hydrogen generation.