Embedding Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanospheres into the interval of Bi-Bi2WO6 microplates by electrostatic attraction for photocatalytic H2 production

To optimize the performance of photocatalytic H 2 production, various effective strategies have been developed to design highly efficient photocatalysts, including morphology control, synergistic reaction design, and utilization of photogenerated charge carriers (PCCs). In this study, a highly efficient Bi-Bi 2 WO 6 /Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S (BBWO/ZCS) composite was synthesized by embedding Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S (ZCS) nanospheres into Bi-Bi 2 WO 6 (BBWO) microsheets through electrostatic self-assembly method. Although BBWO show poor activity in H 2 generation, it largely improves the performance of ZCS under visible light illumination. When the mass of BBWO is 3 % in the composite, BBWO/ZCS exhibited the highest H 2 production rate (28.0 mmol g −1  h −1 ), much higher than that of pure ZCS. Meanwhile, its apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) is high to 8.45 % at 400 nm. The design of the BBWO/ZCS composite not only improves the migration and utilization efficiency of PCCs, but also offers valuable theoretical insights and experimental references for the development of highly efficient photocatalysts.