Abstract
Fabrication of photocatalysts with regulated aspects has emerged as a key strategy for increasing H2 evolution activity. In this report, ZnO/CdS nanosheets/nanoparticles hetero-structure was designed by facile and one step microwave irradiation method for the first time. XRD and Raman studies reveals that the phase formation of ZnO and CdS in ZnO/CdS nanocomposites. The spherical shaped CdS nanoparticles in the sizes of 25–35 nm was uniformly decorated on the surface of ZnO nanosheets. The estimated optical bandgap energy (Eg) was found in the range of 3.13–2.29 eV. There are two emissions were observed at 385 nm and 510 nm in the PL spectra, which possibly due to CdS band edge emission or oxygen vacancies in ZnO. The H2 photocatalytic experiment was carried out under solar light illumination. The synthesized photocatalysts under simulated solar irradiation of exhibited H2 evolution rates of 1545 ± 0.3 μmolh-1g−1 for ZnO/CdS (50 mg CdS incorporated ZnO) composites. The values are higher than compared with pure CdS (715 ± 0.1 μmolh-1g−1) and ZnO (920 ± 0.2 μmolh-1g−1), after 4 h of irradiation. The presence of CdS in the host matrix ZnO was shown to be critical in the formation of ZnO/CdS heterostructures with better interfaces for direct Z-scheme mechanisms with increased hydrogen evolution rates.
Published Version
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