Spatially separated catalytic sites supplied with the CdS-MoS2-In2O3 ternary dumbbell S-scheme heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production

Inspired by natural photosynthesis, the development of high-efficiency and low-energy hydrogen production catalysts is essential to alleviate environmental problems. Here, the CdS nanorods are the main body, and the CdS-MoS2 dumbbell structure is synthesized by the solvothermal method to make the photogenerated electrons flow along the one-dimensional axis. The nanoconfinement effect of MOF-derived In2O3 hollow hexagonal prisms greatly expands the spectral absorption range of the composite photocatalysts. The CdS-In2O3 S-scheme heterojunction was constructed by a simple electrostatic-driven self-assembly method. In situ irradiation X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows that the internal electric field drives the photogenerated electrons in In2O3 to move to CdS, forming a S-scheme heterojunction of CdS-In2O3, which greatly promotes the separation of electron-hole pairs. In2O3 is combined with the sidewalls of the CdS-MoS2 dumbbell to weaken the surface oxidation kinetics, thereby inhibiting the surface photo-corrosion reaction. MoS2 promotes the CdS-In2O3 S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst to show significant photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance. The hydrogen production rate under the irradiation of a 300 W simulated light source is 198.58 mmol h(-1) g(-1), and natural light can produce a large number of visible bubbles. The effective separation of reduction and oxidation functional sites in space, the directional transfer of photogenerated electrons-holes, and the construction of S-scheme heterojunctions are the main factors for the significant increase in the catalytic activity of semiconductor photocatalysts. This work provides an effective strategy for designing metal sulfide-based photocatalysts with high activity and high stability of water-splitting properties.

Automated summary

Inspired by natural photosynthesis, the development of high-efficiency and low-energy hydrogen production catalysts is crucial for mitigating environmental issues. This study focuses on the synthesis of CdS-MoS2 dumbbell structure and the construction of CdS-In2O3 S-scheme heterojunction, enabling directed transfer of photogenerated electrons and efficient separation of electron-hole pairs. The catalytic activity of the semiconductor photocatalysts is significantly enhanced. This work provides an effective strategy for designing metal sulfide-based photocatalysts with high activity and stability in water-splitting.