Abstract
The transformations of single-phase Pt/Cd1−xZnxS and multiphase Pt/Cd1−xZnxS/ZnO/Zn(OH)2 and Pt/Cd1−xZnxS/Zn(OH)2 during photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions of ethanol under visible light (λ=450nm) were investigated. Cyclic tests including long-term experiments were conducted for all photocatalysts. The photocatalysts were investigated before and after the photocatalytic reaction by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and UV–vis spectroscopy techniques. Activation during photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was observed for all multiphase photocatalysts, whereas single phase Pt/Cd1−xZnxS was shown to exhibit a strong deactivation. The activation is likely caused by the formation of the ϵ-Zn(OH)2 phase in a basic medium. The highest exhibited rate of hydrogen evolution on the composite photocatalyst was 3400μmolg−1h −1, and stability during ten 5-hour photocatalytic runs was observed.
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