Tuning ZnCdS heterostructures for enhanced photocatalysis: hybrid architectures for sustainable energy and environmental applications

Abstract

Zinc cadmium sulfide (ZnCdS) based materials have emerged as promising photocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion and environmental remediation due to their tunable bandgap, visible light activity, and strong redox ability. However, challenges such as photocorrosion, charge recombination, and limited electrical conductivity affect their standalone efficiency. To surmount these challenges, the integration of ZnCdS with complementary materials, particularly in hybrid architectures, has demonstrated promise by harnessing the synergistic functionalities of their constituents. This review provides an in-depth analysis of recent advances in ZnCdS material-based heterojunctions and their diverse applications. It discusses their structures and synthesis methodologies in detail, including the fabrication of nanomaterials with various dimensions-zero, one, two, and three to study their morphology. Key approaches include elemental doping, defect engineering, and type-II and Z/S-scheme heterojunctions to improve charge separation and stability. The multifunctional application areas covered include adsorption, biomedical, sensing, photocatalytic degradation, and energy conversion. Finally, the review highlights prevailing limitations and outlines prospective research directions to unlock the full potential of ZnCdS-based materials for sustainable environmental and energy technologies.