Preparation of Pt cluster–modified CdS nanorod via galvanic replacement reaction for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract A novel galvanic replacement reaction (GR) method was developed for preparing Pt cluster–modified CdS nanorod (NR) photocatalysts with enhanced hydrogen evolution performance. The as-prepared CdS NR synthesized via a hydrothermal method was calcined to create an oxide surface layer, which was induced to generate Cd 0 by photogenerated electrons. GR was completed by the reduction of Pt precursors into Pt clusters by Cd 0 , achieving a targeted deposition of Pt on the active sites of CdS. Structural and spectroscopic characterizations (x-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman, and UV–vis) confirmed the formation of highly dispersed Pt clusters on CdS NR. The optimal photocatalyst (CdS/2%Pt-GR) was achieved using PtCl 4 as the precursor with a 2 wt% loading. CdS/2%Pt-GR exhibited a hydrogen evolution rate of 237.7 μ mol h −1 in the lactic acid solution, 2.6, 13.3, and 7.1 times that of CdS-NR-air-2%Pt-CR, CdS-NR-air-2%Pt-PD, and CdS-NR-2%Pt-PD, respectively. Moreover, CdS/2%Pt-GR possessed an excellent photocatalytic stability.