Strong electron-coupled integrated WS2/ZnCdS nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The development of efficient hydrogen production catalysts, by implementing co-catalyst loading strategies and thus regulating photogenerated electron-transfer pathways represents a promising approach to advance the development of hydrogen energy. A simple hydrothermal method is used to integrate WS 2 , which exhibits a strong electron coupling effect, as a co-catalyst with ZnCdS nanoparticles, obtaining WS 2 /ZnCdS nanoparticles that exhibit excellent photocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution. The internal electric field established between WS 2 and ZnCdS, along with the second-order electron-transfer pathways, facilitates the transfer of photogenerated electrons. Moreover, the inherent strong electron coupling effect in WS 2 promotes the accelerated separation of e − −h + pairs, owing to which the H 2 evolution rate of the WS 2 /ZnCdS nanoparticles reaches 5.30 mmol g −1 ·h −1 , which is 22.1 and 2.55 times higher than those of CdS and ZnCdS nanoparticles, respectively. Furthermore, electron paramagnetic resonance and transient photocurrent spectroscopic investigations confirm that the increased H 2 yield could also be attributed to increase in both the number of active sites and photogenerated electrons within the WS 2 /ZnCdS nanoparticles. This study provides valuable insights on WS 2 as a co-catalyst for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. • WS 2 /ZnCdS nanoparticles for hydrogen production is prepared. • The inherent strong electronic coupling effect in WS 2 can rapidly capture photogenerated electrons in ZnCdS nanoparticles. • The active sites and photogenerated electrons in WS 2 /ZnCdS nanoparticles have significantly increased.