Fabrication of CdS@1T-MoS2 core-shell nanostructure for enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 evolution from water splitting

Abstract

Abstract CdS@1T-MoS2 composites with core-shell structure were synthesized through a hydrothermal treatment followed by a solvothermal treatment. Nanosized CdS particles were coated by a thin 1T-MoS2 shell to form efficient heterojunction, as demonstrated by transmission electron microscopy images and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Under visible-light irradiation, CdS@1T-MoS2 composites with the MoS2/CdS weight ratio of 0.5 exhibit the highest photocatalytic performance and the H2 evolution rate reached 2.67 mmol h−1 g−1, which is 50 times that of single 1T-MoS2 and 10 times that of single CdS. 1T-MoS2, as a cocatalyst, donates the composites fast charge transfer ability and the high H2 evolution activity, while the intimate heterojunction between CdS core and 1T-MoS2 shell greatly increase the separation efficiency of photo-induced electron-hole pairs, as demonstrated by the electrochemical and PL results, resulting in the remarkable photocatalytic performance of the composites. This study supplies a facile and efficient strategy to develop the photocatalysts with boosted performance for hydrogen energy application.