Synergistic vacancy defects and bandgap engineering in an Ag/S co-doped Bi2O3-based sulfur oxide catalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution

Herein, an Ag/S co-doped Bi2O3-based sulfur oxide catalyst was prepared via a facile green method. The Ag/S–Bi2O3 catalyst with suitable Ag/S doping demonstrated super visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) at 7.52 mmol g−1 h−1, with an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 8.67% at 420 nm. Ag/S co-doping can adjust the energy band structure of an oxidation type Bi2O3 catalyst, converting it into a visible light hydrogen production catalyst suitable for hydrogen production. Sulfur doping adjusts the content of oxygen vacancies to enhance the surface active sites, and the introduction of noble metal silver endows the catalyst with more excellent electrical conductivity and electron trapping ability. Thus, Bi2O3 with Ag/S co-doping produced a suitable energy band structure, enhanced the content of oxygen vacancies and the number of surface active sites, and endowed the catalyst with excellent electrical conductivity and electron trapping ability, significantly producing catalysts with excellent visible light PHE activity. Furthermore, Ag/S–Bi2O3-3 exhibited super visible light PHE activity and excellent stability and persistence and is expected to play a potential role in the field of PHE reactions (PHERs).