Photodeposited-metal/CdS/ZnO heterostructures for solar photocatalytic hydrogen production under different conditions

Abstract

In this study, photocatalytic hydrogen production over metal-incorporated CdS and ZnO (M/CdS/ZnO) nanocomposites under simulated solar light illumination was investigated. M/CdS/ZnO samples were synthesized by photodepositing a metal into CdS/ZnO powders. All photocatalysts showed increased hydrogen production with an increase in the light exposure time. The M/CdS/ZnO samples exhibited better hydrogen production yields than the CdS/ZnO nanocomposites, which in turn showed higher hydrogen production yields than pure ZnO did. The hydrogen production yields of the CdS/ZnO samples increased as the CdS/ZnO weight ratio increased from 0.01 to 0.10. However, they decreased with further increases in CdS loading, although the light absorption edges of the CdS/ZnO samples were further extended to the visible region. Pt/CdS/ZnO and Pd/CdS/ZnO exhibited similar hydrogen production yields, which were higher than the Ni/CdS/ZnO yield. The hydrogen production yield of Pt (0.5%)/CdS/ZnO was higher than that of Pt (0.1%)/CdS/ZnO. Notably, the hydrogen production yield of CdS/Pt/ZnO was lower than that of Pt/CdS/ZnO. Among three different electron donors (Na2S + Na2SO3, methanol, and lactic acid solutions), the Na2S + Na2SO3 solution led to the highest hydrogen production yield. A tentative mechanism for photocatalytic hydrogen production over M/CdS/ZnO nanocomposites under solar light irradiation, using a Na2S + Na2SO3 solution as an electron donor, was proposed. In summary, M/CdS/ZnO photocatalysts can be utilized efficiently for photocatalytic hydrogen production with solar light exposure through proper control of operating parameters.