Hydrogen generation by photocatalytic reforming of glucose with heterostructured CdS/MoS2 composites under visible light irradiation

Abstract

A binary heterostructured CdS/MoS2 flowerlike composite photocatalysts was synthesized via a simple one-pot hydrothermal method. This photocatalyst demonstrated higher photocatalytic hydrogen production activity than pure MoS2. The heterojunction formed between MoS2 and CdS seems to promote interfacial charge transfer (IFCT), suppress the recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and enhance the hydrogen generation. Based on the good match between the conduction band (CB) edge of CdS and that of MoS2, electrons in the CB of CdS can be transferred to MoS2 easily through the heterojunction between them, which prevents the accumulation of electrons in the CB of CdS, inhibiting photocorrosion itself and greatly enhancing stability of catalyst. Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using Na2S/Na2SO3 or glucose as sacrificial agents in aqueous solution was investigated. The ratio between CdS and MoS2 plays an important role in the photocatalytic hydrogen generation. When the ratio between CdS and MoS2 reaches 40 wt%, the photocatalyst showed a superior H2 evolution rate of 55.0 mmol g−1 h−1 with glucose as sacrificial agent under visible light, which is 1.2 times higher than using Na2S/Na2SO3 as sacrificial agent. Our experimental results demonstrate that MoS2-based binary heterostructured composites are promising for photocorrosion inhibition and highly efficient H2 generation.