Constructing 2D layered hybrid CdS nanosheets/MoS2 heterojunctions for enhanced visible-light photocatalytic H2 generation

Abstract

In this work, a 2D hybrid CdS nanosheets(NSs)/MoS2 layered heterojunctions were successfully synthesized by a two-step hydrothermal method and subsequent ultrasonic treatment. The results showed that the loading ultrathin MoS2 NSs as co-catalysts could significantly boost the photocatalytic H2-evolution activity of CdS NSs. It is demonstrated that the optimized 2D CdS NSs/MoS2 (1.0wt%) layered heterojunctions could achieve the highest photocatalytic H2-evolution activity of 1.75mmolg−1h−1 from an aqueous solution containing sulfide and sulfite under visible light, which is 2.03 times as high as that of the pristine CdS NSs. It is believed that the deposition of ultrathin MoS2 NSs and intimate 2D–2D coupling interfaces are mainly responsible for the excellent H2-evolution performance of 2D CdS NSs/MoS2 layered heterojunctions, owing to the effectively promoted separation and transportation of charge carriers and the enhanced following surface H2-evolution kinetics. Interestingly, the lactic acid and formic acid have also been demonstrated to be better sacrificial reagents than the Na2S/Na2SO3, for the photocatalytic H2 evolution over the 2D CdS NSs/MoS2 layered heterojunctions. It is hoped that the strategy of 2D–2D interfacical coupling based on CdS NSs can become a general strategy to improve the H2-evolution activity over various kinds of conventional semiconductor NSs.