Enhanced solar driven hydrogen evolution rate by integrating dual co-catalysts (MoS2, SeS2) on CdS nanorods

Abstract

Design and development of inexpensive novel nanostructures is a notable pathway to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen evolution to subsidize the future energy demand. For the first time, we are reporting on the MoS2-SeS2 dual co-catalysts decorated CdS nanorods for efficient photocatalytic water splitting hydrogen production under the simulated sunlight irradiation. Comprehensive structural analyses demonstrated that MoS2-SeS2 nanostructures decorated on CdS possess structure as that of pristine CdS nanorods. Room temperature photoluminescence spectra showed the reduction of luminescence intensity in the presence of MoS2-SeS2 dual co-catalysts on CdS host matrix. We obtained a better hydrogen evolution rate (168.93 mmol g−1 h−1) through CdS/MoS2-SeS2 nanocomposites. The present composite also possess long durability and high stability by producing a large surface area, more trapping sites, huge number of charge carriers, efficient charge carrier transportation, and less recombination of charge carriers. Present composite hydrogen evolution rate is 67 times greater than that of hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of pristine CdS nanorods. We intensely trust that, the present composite CdS/MoS2-SeS2 nanocomposite is the potential candidate for hydrogen production under the solar light harvesting phenomenon.