PdS Quantum Dots as a Hole Attractor Encapsulated into the MOF@Cd0.5Zn0.5S Heterostructure for Boosting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution under Visible Light

Herein, a new photocatalyst PdS@UiOS@CZS is successfully synthesized, where thiol-functionalized UiO-66 (UiOS), a metal-organic framework (MOF) material, is used as a host to encapsulate PdS quantum dots (QDs) in its cages, and Cd0.5Zn0.5S (CZS) solid solution nanoparticles (NPs) are anchored on its outer surface. The resultant PdS@UiOS@CZS with an optimal ratio between components displays an excellent photocatalytic H-2 evolution rate of 46.1 mmol h(-1) g(-1) under visible light irradiation (420 similar to 780 nm), which is 512.0, 9.2, and 5.9 times that of pure UiOS, CZS, and UiOS@CZS, respectively. The reason for the significantly enhanced performance is that the encapsulated PdS QDs strongly attract the photogenerated holes into the pores of UiOS, while the photogenerated electrons are effectively migrated to CZS due to the heterojunction effect, thereby effectively suppressing the recombination of charge carriers for further high-efficiency hydrogen production. This work provides an idea for developing efficient photocatalysts induced by hole attraction.

Automated summary

A new photocatalyst PdS@UiOS@CZS with excellent photocatalytic H-2 evolution rate is successfully synthesized by encapsulating PdS quantum dots in thiol-functionalized UiO-66 and anchoring Cd0.5Zn0.5S solid solution nanoparticles on its outer surface. The significantly enhanced performance is attributed to the attraction of photogenerated holes by encapsulated PdS QDs into the pores of UiOS and the effective migration of photogenerated electrons to CZS due to the heterojunction effect, thereby suppressing the recombination of charge carriers.