Peanut‐Like Zn0.5Cd0.5S/BiVO4 S‐Scheme Heterojunction Photocatalysts Toward Optimized Visible Light Photocatalytic Performance

Abstract

The development of heterojunction composite photocatalysts with sophisticated charge transfer mechanisms and interfaces is a promising approach to enhance photocatalytic efficiency. Herein, for the first time, a peanut‐like Zn0.5Cd0.5S/BiVO4 S‐scheme heterostructure visible‐light composite photocatalyst via a two‐step hydrothermal method is synthesized. S‐scheme heterostructures, which can maintain the maximum redox capacity in the conduction and valence bands of the catalyst, have been established as an effective charge transfer mode in the field of photocatalysis. The Zn0.5Cd0.5S/BiVO4 heterojunction photocatalyst exhibits 99.52% degradation efficiency for tetracycline‐based organic pollutants under visible light irradiation. In addition, the photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency of the composite catalyst is as high as 8969.58 μmol g−1 h−1, which is 69.24 and 4.35 times higher than that of single BiVO4 and Zn0.5Cd0.5S, respectively. Through density functional theory calculations and experimental studies, the material conformed to the charge transfer mode of the S‐scheme heterojunction is determined. The improved photocatalytic efficiency can be attributed to the formation of S‐scheme heterogeneous interface, which bends the energy band at the interfacial contact, and the formation of an internal electric field, which hinders rapid charge recombination and prolongs the lifetime of charge carriers.