Development of a novel ternary FeWO4/CoP/Mn0.5Cd0.5S composite photocatalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in watersplitting

Abstract

The construction of a non-homogeneous photocatalyst system with the advantages of both efficient photogenerated charge separation efficiency and abundant number of active sites remains a major challenge in the field of photocatalysis. A new ternary MnCdS-based photocatalyst combined with FeWO4 and CoP modifications was successfully prepared by chemical precipitation and thermal reduction methods. The ternary FeWO4/CoP/Mn0.5Cd0.5S photocatalyst exhibited a maximum hydrogen evolution activity of 30.45 mmol⋅g−1⋅h−1, which was 6.86 times higher than that of pureMn0.5Cd0.5S. The enhancement of the hydrogen production performance of the FeWO4/CoP/Mn0.5Cd0.5Sphotocatalyst was attributed to the p-n heterojunction constructed at the interface of FeWO4 and Mn0.5Cd0.5S, which strengthened the charge separation ability of the system. On the other hand, the decoration of CoP remarkably diminishes the hydrogen evolution potential of the system and supplies richer active sites for the catalytic reaction.