Dual CdS–CoS/S,N-doped TiO2 nanofibers for efficient visible-light induced H2 evolution

Abstract

Solar-light driven water splitting acted as an important technology to solve the energy crisis has attracted much more attention. To restrain the recombination rate of charge carriers and enhance the surface activity of TiO2, integrating dual CdS–CoS with S,N-codoped TiO2 with a Cd/Co mole ratio of 1:1 (Cd0.5Co0.5S/SN-TiO2) nano-fibers were fabricated via the electro-spinning and one-pot hydrothermal routes. H2-evolution rate of Cd0.5Co0.5S/SN-TiO2 nano-fibers was higher than TiO2, CoS/SN-TiO2 and CdS/SN-TiO2 nano-fibers. The optimal 3-Cd0.5Co0.5S/SN-TiO2 with a Cd0.5Co0.5S ratio of 5.0 wt% performed the highest photocatalytic activity (4.55 mmol g−1 h−1), and the best photocatalytic durability after five cycles. It's owing to the hybrid effect of CdS and CoS for efficient transfer and separation of charge carriers at the junction interface between Cd0.5Co0.5S nanoparticles and S,N-codoped TiO2 nanofibers. Meanwhile, the extending visible-light response and sufficient active sites of TiO2-based heterojunctions are favorable for the water splitting.