BiVO4 nanowires decorated with CdS nanoparticles as Z-scheme photocatalyst with enhanced H2 generation

Abstract

Highly efficient photocatalysts require to be achieved via an efficient charge separation action and responded under visible light. Here, we demonstrate a novel Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst composed of two visible light responding semiconductors without use of electron mediator. The as-prepared CdS nanoparticles decorated BiVO4 nanowires (CdS/BiVO4 NWs) exhibit broader light absorption region and Z-scheme charge separation mechanism for photocatalytic H2 generation under visible light. As a results, the optimizing CdS/BiVO4 NWs in 1:2wt ratio shows more than two times increase in photocatalytic H2 generation rate compared to bare CdS. Moreover, the Z-scheme CdS/BiVO4 NWs lead to main oxidation sites at BiVO4 NWs that successfully avoid photo-corrosion of CdS during photocatalysis.