Cauliflower-like CuS/ZnS nanocomposites decorated g-C3N4 nanosheets as noble metal-free photocatalyst for superior photocatalytic water splitting

A promising cauliflower like morphology of CuS/ZnS/g-C3N4 is developed as an effective visible-light driven photocatalyst via a facile hydrothermal route followed by ultrasound assisted wet impregnation method and cation exchange treatment. As prepared CuS/ZnS/g-C3N4 nanocomposites were characterized using various analytical techniques to confirm the composite formation and study their morphology, structure and band gap. Na2S and Na2SO3 solutes illuminated by 250W halogen lamp are employed to evaluate the hydrogen production capability of as prepared photocatalyst. The results revealed the superior photocatalytic activity in hydrogen production reaction by as prepared CuS/ZnS/g-C3N4 nanocomposites against g-C3N4, ZnS and CuS/ZnS photocatalysts. We have achieved the highest hydrogen production rate of 9868 mu mol h(-1) g(-1) by the composite containing 5 wt% of g-C3N4 with excellent durability during photocatalytic hydrogen production. This excellent performance attributed to the increased absorption level of visible light in the nanocomposite and higher stability of electron-hole pairs created upon irradiation.