Unique 1D Cd1- x Znx S@O-MoS2 /NiOx Nanohybrids: Highly Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution via Integrated Structural Regulation

Haifeng Lin; Bowen Sun; Hui Wang; Qinqin Ruan; Yanling Geng; Yanyan Li; Jiakun Wu; Wenjing Wang; Jie Liu; Xun Wang

doi:10.1002/smll.201804115

Unique 1D Cd_1- _x Zn_x S@O-MoS₂ /NiO_x Nanohybrids: Highly Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution via Integrated Structural Regulation

Small. 2019 Jul;15(29):e1804115. doi: 10.1002/smll.201804115. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Authors

Haifeng Lin¹, Bowen Sun¹, Hui Wang², Qinqin Ruan¹, Yanling Geng¹, Yanyan Li¹, Jiakun Wu¹, Wenjing Wang¹, Jie Liu³, Xun Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Eco-Chemical Engineering, Taishan Scholar Advantage and Characteristic Discipline Team of Eco Chemical Process and Technology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China.
² Taishan Scholar Distinguishing Discipline Talent Team of Rubber-Plastics Science and Engineering, School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China.
³ Key Laboratory of Eco-Chemical Engineering, Taishan Scholar Advantage and Characteristic Discipline Team of Eco Chemical Process and Technology, College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266042, P. R. China.
⁴ Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China.

PMID: 30645027
DOI: 10.1002/smll.201804115

Abstract

Development of noble-metal-free photocatalysts for highly efficient sunlight-driven water splitting is of great interest. Nevertheless, for the photocatalytic H₂ evolution reaction (HER), the integrated regulation study on morphology, electronic band structures, and surface active sites of catalyst is still minimal up to now. Herein, well-defined 1D Cd_1- _x Zn_x S@O-MoS₂ /NiO_x hybrid nanostructures with enhanced activity and stability for photocatalytic HER are prepared. Interestingly, the band alignments, exposure of active sites, and interfacial charge separation of Cd_1- _x Zn_x S@O-MoS₂ /NiO_x are optimized by tuning the Zn-doping content as well as the growth of defect-rich O-MoS₂ layer and NiO_x nanoparticles, which endow the hybrids with excellent HER performances. Specifically, the visible-light-driven (>420 nm) HER activity of Cd_1- _x Zn_x S@O-MoS₂ /NiO_x with 15% Zn-doping and 0.2 wt% O-MoS₂ (CZ_0.15 S-0.2M-NiO_x ) in lactic acid solution (66.08 mmol h^-1 g^-1 ) is about 25 times that of Pt loaded CZ_0.15 S, which is further increased to 223.17 mmol h^-1 g^-1 when using Na₂ S/Na₂ SO₃ as the sacrificial agent. Meanwhile, in Na₂ S/Na₂ SO₃ solution, the CZ_0.15 S-0.2M-NiO_x sample demonstrates an apparent quantum yield of 64.1% at 420 nm and a good stability for HER under long-time illumination. The results presented in this work can be valuable inspirations for the exploitation of advanced materials for energy-related applications.

Keywords: 1D hybrid nanostructures; active sites; band alignments; charge separation; photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Abstract

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