Anchoring MoS2 on ZnCdS to accelerate charge migration to promote photocatalytic water decomposition performance

The availability of low-cost precious metal-free photocatalysts is critical for sustainable and large-scale hydrogen production. Constructing heterojunctions is considered as an effective strategy to enhance the transfer/separation of photo-induced charges. Nanoflower structures of ZnCdS can significantly enhance light absorption and increase the specific surface area available for reactions involving photo-generated carriers. Herein, MoS 2 are attached to ZnCdS nanoflowers through electrostatic adsorption, forming a ZnCdS-MoS 2 composite photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Under visible light irradiation, the ZCS-MoS 2 -8 % photocatalyst demonstrates an impressive photocatalytic HER rate of 42.07 mmol·h −1 ·g −1 , which is 5.8 times higher than that of the pure ZnCdS photocatalyst (outperforming many reported results). The MoS 2 nanocrystals greatly benefit the transfer of photoinduced electrons to ZnCdS for proton reduction and facilitate the transfer of holes for water oxidation. The constructed ZnCdS-MoS 2 photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution shows promising chemical and economic value.