TiO2 NTs/MoS2-CdS hybrid photocathode for visible light-driven photoelectrochemical performance: Waste water remediation, photoelectric conversion and hydrogen generation

Abstract

Environmental pollution and resource shortage are big challenges for the development and life of human society, and the photocatalyst has been a prospective material to solve these problems by solar energy utilization and conversion. However, the issues including single function, low efficiency and weak photoelectrochemial stability still hinder the practical application of photocatalysts. In this work, ternary hereojunction photocatalysts with multiple photoelectrochemical applications were prepared by the hydrothermal deposition of MoS2 and CdS sensitizers on TiO2 nanotube arrays (TiO2 NTs), and the dramatically high photocatalytic performance and stability in pollutant treatment and photoelectric/H2 generation were obtained. The characterization data indicated that the high photocatalytic efficiencies of 51.57 %/3 h, 99.83 %/3 h, 99.51 %/2 h and 59.71 %/3 h were achieved toward the removal of MO, RhB, MB and Cr(VI), the photocurrent and photovoltage were 451.70 μA/cm2 and −0.31 V, and the photocatalytic H2 generation rate of 200.81 μmol·cm−2·h−1 was obtained under visible light irradiation. The straightway charge carrier transportation path of TiO2 NTs/MoS2-CdS photocatalysts is the effective guarantee for the low electron/hole recombination chance and high photocatalytic performance.