O-MoS2/Mn0.5Cd0.5S composites with enhanced activity for visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution†
Abstract
Rational design of highly efficient photocatalysts based on molybdenum cocatalysts is prospective to achieve hydrogen evolution under visible light. Herein, Mn0.5Cd0.5S nanoparticles decorated with O-doped MoS2 nanosheets (denoted as O-MoS2/Mn0.5Cd0.5S) were successfully synthesized. The incorporation of O atoms, which could trigger defects and enlarge the interlayer distance of MoS2, was achieved by a simple hydrothermal method. The performances of O-MoS2/Mn0.5Cd0.5S composites for catalyzing hydrogen evolution are rapidly enhanced with increasing contents of O-MoS2. The resultant 12 wt% O-MoS2/Mn0.5Cd0.5S composite exhibits superior stability and a satisfactory hydrogen production rate up to 84.32 mmol g−1 h−1 and the apparent quantum efficiency at 420 nm is 46.92%, which is 3.18 times higher than that of Mn0.5Cd0.5S nanoparticles. To the best of our understanding, such an exceptional activity of 12 wt% O-MoS2/Mn0.5Cd0.5S prepared in this work for hydrogen evolution is one of the highest among all reported Mn–Cd–S-based catalysts. The markedly strengthened activity is attributed to the improved light absorption and effective separation of photoinduced carriers between O-MoS2 nanosheets and Mn0.5Cd0.5S nanoparticles. This work indicates that O-MoS2 is a potential cocatalyst for the rational construction of efficient photocatalysts.