MnS/Mn0.5Cd0.5S nanorods modified with Cu2MoS4 nanoplates for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract

In this paper, a series of highly efficient, noble metal-free 2D lamellar Cu₂MoS₄ modified 1D short rod-like MnS/Mn_0.5Cd_0.5S nanocomposites were obtained by hydrothermal impregnation. The prepared samples were subjected to different characterization tests, and the photocatalytic activity test results revealed that the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of the composite Cu₂MoS₄/MnS/Mn_0.5Cd_0.5S reached 22.4 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation in the sacrificial reagent Na₂S–Na₂SO₃ with a Cu₂MoS₄ loading of 10 wt%, which is 2.3 times higher than that of pure MnS/Mn_0.5Cd_0.5S. Due to the loading of the co-catalyst Cu₂MoS₄, the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of the composites was improved as a result of the reduction in the compounding of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and enhancement in the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers. This paper provides an idea for the synthesis of noble metal-free nanocomposites as co-catalysts to enhance photocatalytic activity.