The enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production of nickel-cobalt bimetals sulfide synergistic modified CdS nanorods with active facets

Nickel-cobalt bimetals sulfide synergistic modified CdS nanorods with active facets are fabricated by a simple continuously hydrothermal method, there, CdS nanorods are preliminarily fabricated by the hydrothermal method, and then Ni–Co–S nanoparticles are deposited on the surface of CdS nanorods. Evaluated by the photocatalytic hydrogen production, the photocatalytic performance of CdS/Ni–Co–S (∼6.56 mmol/g∙h) exhibits an obvious enhancement of about ∼240 folds than typical CdS. The main reasons for the HER enhancement are ascribed to that, the active facets can promote the photo-generated electron aggregating at surface to increase the HER activities, Pt-like behavior Ni–Co–S can promote the photo-generated electrons transferring/diffusing into the water, the small size of CdS nanorods and Ni–Co–S nanoparticles can provide sufficient HER active sites and shorten the transferring route, which can be supported by the electrochemical measurements.