High-performance visible-light-driven MoS2/CdZnS nanorods for photocatalytic hydrogen production by water splitting

Abstract

In this study, CdZnS nanorods modified with MoS2 nanosheets were prepared by a hydrothermal method. The CdZnS nanorods were optimized by varying Zn amounts according to their photocatalytic H2 production performance. The Cd:Zn = 9:1 (CZS) sample exhibits the highest photocatalytic H2 production rates among various samples. MoS2 nanosheets were loaded on the surface of the Cd:Zn = 9:1 sample by a sonication method. 6 wt% MoS2 decoration (M6-CZS) enables to achieve the highest H2 production rate (75.89 mmol g−1 h−1) among the composites, which was 11.3 times higher than that of pristine CZS. The enhanced mechanism was analyzed with the aid of electrochemical experiments. The results reveal that M6-CZS exhibit higher photocurrent density, increased donor density, lower charge transfer resistance and recombination rate, which are the reasons for the improved photocatalytic performance. This study sheds light on the design of novel composites as excellent visible-light-driven photocatalysts for solar‑hydrogen energy conversion.