Abstract
Abstract The production of hydrogen gas through photocatalytic water splitting has attracted extensive attention owing to the increasing global energy crisis. In this work, elongated TiO 2 nanocrystals along [0 0 1] orientation with stepped (1 0 1) surface were successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal method and subsequently sensitized by CdS nanoparticles for efficient visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water splitting. The diameter and length of the elongated nanocrystals can be controlled by the Cd(CH 3 COO) 2 ·2H 2 O additive, which serves as not only reactant but also structure directing agent. The morphology, microstructure, crystal phase, chemical composition and photoelectrochemical performance of the as-obtained TiO 2 nanocrystals and CdS nanoparticles sensitized TiO 2 nanocrystals have been carefully investigated via various characterizations. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the CdS nanoparticles were contacted with the (1 0 1) surface of the elongated TiO 2 nanocrystals, which is significant for the accelerated separation of photoinduced charge carriers. The synthesized CdS sensitized TiO 2 nanostructures exhibit strong visible-light absorption capability and enhanced photocatalytic activity for hydrogen generation from water splitting under visible light irradiation ( λ > 400 nm). The hydrogen production rate of CdS sensitized TiO 2 nanocrystals can reach 3.85 mmol h −1 g −1 when the optimal Cd/Ti molar ratio is 0.17. A feasible mechanism is proposed for the photoexcited electrons transfer from CdS nanoparticles to the stepped (1 0 1) surface of anatase TiO 2 nanocrystals. This work offers an efficient way to synthesize composite photocatalysts in nanoscale for improved separation efficiency of photoexcited charge carriers.
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