Fabrication of CdS NS/MoS 2 NS @Ti 3 C 2 NS for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production

In this work, a CdS NS/MoS2 NS@Ti3C2 NS heterostructure was successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method for efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production. The structural, morphological, and optical properties of the prepared materials were systematically characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) DRS analyses. The XRD patterns confirmed the crystalline nature of the heterostructure, while microscopic analyses revealed the uniform distribution of MoS2 and Ti3C2 nanosheets over the CdS surfaces, forming an intimate interface beneficial for charge separation. The PEC performance was evaluated under light illumination in a 1 M KOH electrolyte. The CdS NS/MoS2 NS@Ti3C2 NS electrode exhibited a remarkable photocurrent density of 1.40 mA cm–2 and a low overpotential of 0.036 V (vs RHE), as compared to the bare CdS (0.94 mA cm–2, 0.069 V) and MoS2 (0.98 mA cm–2, 0.061 V). This enhancement was attributed to the efficient charge transfer and suppressed recombination due to the synergistic interaction among CdS, MoS2, and Ti3C2. These findings demonstrated that adding Ti3C2 as a conductive bridge within CdS/MoS2 heterostructures effectively increases the charge dynamics, catalytic performance, and hydrogen production efficiency under light illumination. Overall, this work provides valuable insights into the rational design of multicomponent heterojunctions for sustainable and scalable solar-to-hydrogen conversion technologies.