Snowflake-like Cu2S/Zn0.5Cd0.5S p–n heterojunction photocatalyst for enhanced visible light photocatalytic H2 evolution activity

Abstract

Abstract Building a p–n heterojunction can accelerate the separation and transfer of photoinduced charges, which is considered to be a promising approach to constructing photocatalysts with excellent H2 evolution activities. Herein, novel snowflake-like Cu2S/Zn0.5Cd0.5S heterojunction photocatalysts were successfully synthesized. Compared to the pure Cu2S and Zn0.5Cd0.5S, the as-synthesized Cu2S/Zn0.5Cd0.5S showed remarkably improved H2 evolution rate. Cu2S/Zn0.5Cd0.5S with a Cu2S content of 3 wt% showed the optimized H2 evolution rate of 4923.5 µmol g−1 h−1 in Na2S–Na2SO3 solutions, and the corresponding apparent quantum efficiency is 30.2% at 420 nm. The experimental results indicate that the enhanced H2 evolution rates can be attributed to the fabrication of the p–n heterojunction between Cu2S and Zn0.5Cd0.5S, effectively boosting photogenerated charge carriers separation and transfer. Moreover, a plausible mechanism was proposed.