Introducing a Porous Container and a Defect-Rich Cocatalyst Coating Over CdS Nanoparticles for Promotion of Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract CdS nano-photocatalysts hold a great promise for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution; however, their practical application is greatly hampered by poor activity and stability due to the recombination of the photogenerated charge carriers and photocorrosion phenomena. Herein, we report a novel 3-dimensional CdS@UiO-66 nanostructures obtained by a facile solvent-free approach; with a step-by-step procedure, the core/shell configuration provided a suitable unit in size to easily equip defect-rich MoS 2 nanosheets. The UiO-66 Zr-MOFs used as a porous container to promote the dispersion of CdS nanoparticles, resulting to the increasement of active sites for photocatalytic reaction. The further enhanced photocatalytic activity for MoS 2 hybrid CdS@UiO-66 originated from the manufactured defect on the exposed edges of MoS 2 nanosheets, which was produced by adjusting the S/Mo ratio. UiO-66 did not only provide extensive migration routes over photogenerated electrons, more importantly, it created ample time and sites for accelerating consumption of the isolated photogenerated holes with sacrificial agent, resulting in alleviating photocorrosion reaction. The photocatalytic efficiency and photostability were simultaneously promoted. This work highlights the potential application of core/shell configuration in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Graphic Abstract CdS@UiO-66 type composite photocatalyst was obtained in the condition of solvent-free assembling at room temperature. The defect-rich MoS 2 nanosheets were felicitously equipped on the core/shell configuration. The obtained defect MoS 2 hybrid CdS@UiO-66 composite material exhibits a high and stable hydrogen production rate due to their synergistic effect.