Uniform H-CdS@NiCoP core-shell nanosphere for highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic H₂ evolution

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Photocatalysis

Background:

• Developing efficient and affordable photocatalyst systems is crucial for advancing photocatalysis.
• Existing cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanostructures face limitations in performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize novel hollow CdS@NiCoP core-shell nanostructures.
• To evaluate their efficiency for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
• To understand the role of NiCoP as a co-catalyst.

Main Methods:

• Facile hydrothermal synthesis of CdS nanospheres (N-CdS) and hollow CdS (H-CdS).
• Preparation of H-CdS@NiCoP core-shell nanostructures with varying NiCoP content.
• Photocatalytic activity testing under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm).
• Characterization using XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, UV-vis DRS, PL, and photoelectrochemical techniques.

Main Results:

• Hollow CdS (H-CdS) demonstrated significantly higher activity (3.34 mmol g⁻¹h⁻¹) than N-CdS (0.99 mmol g⁻¹h⁻¹).
• H-CdS@NiCoP-7 wt% achieved a maximum H₂ evolution rate of 13.47 mmol g⁻¹h⁻¹, outperforming pristine H-CdS and H-CdS@Pt.
• The composite exhibited excellent stability over a 20-hour test.
• NiCoP facilitated p-n junction formation and enhanced charge transfer from CdS.

Conclusions:

• The hollow structure of CdS is beneficial for improving photocatalytic activity.
• NiCoP serves as an effective co-catalyst, significantly enhancing the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of H-CdS.
• The developed H-CdS@NiCoP system offers a promising pathway for efficient and stable photocatalysis.