Double-shelled CeO2 coupled CdZnS nanoparticles as an efficient heterojunction visible light photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution

Designing of novel semiconductor photocatalysts toward high-efficient catalytic H2 generation has played a potential role in developing sustainable energy. Here, nanostructured CeO2/CdZnS/ZnO composite material has been synthesized through simple hydrothermal process. The present photocatalyst exhibits high photocatalytic activity for H2 generation under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). It can be possibly explained: First, the ZnO layer formed on double-shelled CeO2 hollow spheres (D-CeO2) by the priority adsorption of Zn2+ exhibits both efficient hole consumption and photo-corrosion inhibition. Second, superior charge separation and charge transfer efficiency originates from the Z-scheme CeO2/CdZnS heterojunction.