Highly efficient photocatalysts of Pt/BN/CdS constructed by using the Pt as the electron acceptor and the BN as the holes transfer for H2-production

High active BN/CdS composite photocatalysts were prepared by the ball milling method. The prepared BN/CdS composites were characterized by the X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis absorption spectra (UV-vis) and fluorescence emission spectra (PL). The effects of the loading amounts of BN and the ball milling time on the H-2-evolution rate were investigated. The results indicated that the tight contact of CdS with h-BN can be achieved, and the photocatalytic activity of CdS could be improved substantially by coupling with a proper amount of milled h-BN. The optimal loading amount of h-BN was found to be 5 wt% and the milling time was 1 h. In the Pt/CdS/BN photocatalytic system, both the Pt as the electron acceptor and the BN as the hole transfer may cause the improvement of the CdS activity. The highest H-2-evolution rate over the Pt/BN/CdS photocatalyst can reach as high as similar to 17.563 mmol g(-1) h(-1). (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.