Polyoxometalate Template-Based Synthetic Strategy to Prepare Ni, Mo Co-Doped CdS for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Water Splitting

In this work, a novel polyoxometalate template-based strategy was applied to construct the bi-metal-doped CdS photocatalysts. NiMo6 polyoxometalate template precursor was applied for the preparation of Ni, Mo co-doped CdS photocatalysts (NiMo-CdS). The structures of the materials were explored by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, HAADF, element mapping, XPS, Raman spectrum and UV-vis DRS. Moreover, the results of the UV-vis spectrum showed that NiMo-CdS exhibited an enhanced performance on light absorption. The results of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water splitting demonstrated that the NiMo-CdS showed higher efficiency on hydrogen evolution than noble-metal Pt-doped CdS. The reason could be ascribed to the enhanced light absorption ability and charge separation after Ni and Mo were introduced, which could also act as co-catalysts. The apparent quantum yield (AQY) efficiency could reach 42% at 365 nm. This work proposed a novel and inexpensive method to synthesize the bi-metal (Ni, Mo) decorated CdS photocatalysts for efficient hydrogen evolution from water splitting.