Fabrication of layered Fe2P-Cd0.5Zn0.5 S nanoparticles with a reverse heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

In this work, a novel two-dimensional (2D) layered Fe2P modified Cd0.5Zn0.5S (CZS) nanoparticles composites were successfully developed by an environmentally friendly solvothermal method. The Fe(2)PCZS photocatalysts were used for noble-metal-free photocatalytic H-2 generation under visible light. The rate of H-2 evolution of 13 wt% Fe2P-CZS was 24.84 mmol.g(-1).h(-1), which was 37.6 times that of CZS (0.66 mmol.g(-1).h(-1)). The formation of the 2D-0D reverse heterojunction in the Fe2P-CZS composite photocatalyst improved the transport and separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and optimized the kinetics of hydrogen evolution. Compared with Fe2P particles, the layered Fe2P cocatalysts had higher conductivity and lower hydrogen evolution overpotential. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, a novel 2D layered Fe2P modified Cd0.5Zn0.5S nanoparticles composite was successfully developed for visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen generation. The formation of a 2D-0D reverse heterojunction in the Fe2P-CZS composite photocatalyst improved the transport and separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, leading to optimized kinetics of hydrogen evolution. Compared to Fe2P particles, the layered Fe2P cocatalysts exhibited higher conductivity and lower hydrogen evolution overpotential, significantly enhancing the efficiency of hydrogen production.