CdS@Mg(OH)2 core/shell composite photocatalyst for efficient visible-light photocatalytic overall water splitting

Coating a protective agent or promoter on the surface of the photocatalyst is a proven good strategy to realize photocatalytic hydrogen production from pure water, but remains still a considerable challenge. Herein, a novel [email protected](OH)2 core/shell composite nanorods photocatalyst was synthesized by coating Mg(OH)2 on CdS surface by hydrothermal and precipitation processes. The coated-Mg(OH)2 layer did not change the structure of CdS, and the photocatalytic overall water splitting performance of the [email protected](OH)2 under visible light irradiation was improved obviously. After loading nano-Pt via the photodeposited method, the hydrogen production rate and stability of Pt/[email protected](OH)2 were 3.3 and 2.4 times that of the Pt/CdS under the visible light irradiation, respectively. The surface Mg(OH)2 layer improved the hydrophilicity and stability of the core/shell composites and increased the amount of active sites, thus improving the photocatalytic properties. It is believed that Mg(OH)2 can be used as a new co-catalyst to enhance the performance of photocatalytic overall water splitting.