Interface-engineered CdZnS/PDI S-scheme photocatalyst with synergistic effects for enhanced hydrogen production

Overcoming limited charge separation and inefficient solar utilization remains critical for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. This study addresses these challenges by constructing an organic-inorganic composite photocatalyst by integrating CdZnS nanoparticles with perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (PDI) nanosheets via controlled assembly. Optimizing the PDI content yielded a remarkable hydrogen evolution rate of 7.09 mmol·g −1 ·h −1 under visible light irradiation, representing a 2.3-fold enhancement over pristine CdZnS. This superior photocatalytic performance originates from synergistic effects: exceptional light harvesting by PDI supramolecular structures, enhanced charge mobility via π-π conjugation pathways, and efficient charge separation with high redox potential preservation enabled by the S-scheme heterojunction mechanism. This work establishes a strategic paradigm for developing high-efficiency heterojunction photocatalysts through rational interface engineering.