A new CdS/Bi1-xInxTaO4 heterostructured photocatalyst containing solid solutions for H2 evolution from water splitting

A new strategy has been put forward to improve the performance of photocatalytic H-2 evolution of tantalate-based catalysts through designing solid solutions Bi1-xInxTaO4 combined with CdS, among which the solid solutions Bi1-xInxTaO4 (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 0.9, and 1.0) were firstly synthesized by the citrate method using cheap and environment-friendly Ta2O5. The experimental results reveal that the Bi0.5In0.5TaO4 solid solution shows the best photocatalytic performance among the Bi1-xInxTaO4 solid solutions. And in the absence of noble metals, the 30% CdS/Bi0.5In0.5TaO4 (30CBITO) catalyst exhibits good photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water splitting with a rate of H-2 production of 511.75 mu mol h(-1) g(-1) under simulated sunlight irradiation. And the rate of hydrogen evolution does not markedly change for 60 h. Their compositions, structures and morphologies were characterized by UV vis diffusion reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). A photocatalytic enhancement mechanism was put forward to elucidate the superior photocatalytic activity and long-term stability of the heterostructured CdS/Bi0.5In0.5TaO4 composites. Copyright (C) 2014, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.