Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution on CdS–based composites derived from in situ carbonization of a sulfonic azo dye complex

Abstract

Engineered CdS@NC composites were fabricated via the carbonization of a crystalline complex comprised by cadmium cations and methyl orange anions, [Cd(H2O)6(C14H14N3SO3)2] 1, and were developed as viable photocatalysts for enhanced hydrogen (H2) production under visible irradiation with a H2 evolution rate of ca. 7428.0 μmol h−1 g−1, which was relatively high for CdS–based nanomaterials reported hitherto.