Insight into the solar utilization of a novel Z-scheme Cs0.33WO3/CdS heterostructure for UV–Vis-NIR driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract

The efficient utilization of solar light with UV–Vis-NIR spectrum in photocatalytic hydrogen process is a great confusion to explore, towards achieving high-efficient solar-to-fuel conversion. Herein, we firstly endow CdS a full-spectrum photocatalytic H2 ability by coupling with a full-spectrum absorption material Cs0.33WO3 (CWO). The CWO/CdS photocatalyst reveals the full spectrum photocatalytic ability to produce H2 of 2648 μmol g−1 h−1 under the full spectrum, 708 μmol g−1 h−1 under visible light, which is 10 times as high as that of pure CdS nanoparticles under visible light, and 16 μmol g−1 h−1 under NIR spectrum (λ > 800 nm). Meanwhile, the composite selectively utilizes solar light: 708 μmol g−1 h−1 under λ > 420 nm and 25 μmol g−1 h−1 under >520 nm, demonstrating the main functional region of visible light is at 400–520 nm, supported by the down and up conversion of the PL analysis. By combining with the analysis, the excellent activity of hydrogen evolution is attributed to the synergistic effect of a z-scheme heterojunction and the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of CWO. This work has put forward a novel Z-scheme heterostructure for constructing high-efficient photocatalyst towards providing a new heterostructure combination and opens an insight on the usage of different solar region.