High-performance photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in a Zn0.5Cd0.5S/MoS2 p–n heterojunction

With respect to solid-solution photocatalysts for water splitting, researchers have focused on improving the loading and stability of catalysts, which have been major concerns and research interests. Herein, the fabrication of Zn0.5Cd0.5S/MoS2 nanocomposites involved a two-step method that encompassed hydrothermal synthesis and physical mixing. Experimental results confirmed that the Zn0.5Cd0.5S/MoS2 nanocomposites exhibited outstanding photocatalytic performance. In particular, they exhibited a notable hydrogen precipitation rate of 19.41 mmol/(g*h). The hydrogen production performance of Zn0.5Cd0.5S/MoS2 was approximately nine times greater than that of pure Zn0.5Cd0.5S, indicating a considerable increase. The observed enhancement in photocatalytic efficiency can be attributed to the formation of a p–n heterojunction between Zn0.5Cd0.5S and MoS2. This particular junction helped in separating and migrating photoinduced charge carriers, ultimately improving the photocatalytic performance. Furthermore, the addition of excess thiourea in MoS2 preparation produced Mo–O defects and increased the layer spacing of the involved material, improving the electron transfer and visible-light utilization of the material. The inhibition of carrier recombination was beneficial for synthesizing efficient and long-lasting photocatalysts.