ZnO@ZnS core–shell nanorods with homologous heterogeneous interface to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

The noble-metal-free semiconductor photocatalysts for effective H2 production from H2O splitting under simulated sunlight has been interested greatly by researchers at present. In this work, a novel ZnO@ZnS core–shell nanorods with ZnO core of different thickness were synthesized firstly through partial vulcanization. The ZnO@ZnS (1:1) material exhibited the best photocatalytic performances with hydrogen production rates of 2.4 mmol g−1 h−1, approximately 12.6, 3.3 and 1.5 times higher than those of ZnO, ZnO@ZnS (1:0.5) and ZnO@ZnS (1:1.5), respectively. Additionally, the corresponding apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of the optimal material achieved 2.58% under simulated sunlight. The significantly improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance can be attributed to two main reasons: the distinctive internal structure of ZnO core, the homologous heterogeneous interface between ZnS and ZnO. The former factor realizes light absorption to trigger the photocatalytic reaction, and the latter one greatly improves the separation and migration rate of photogenerated carriers.