Unraveling Photoexcited Charge Transfer Pathway and Process of CdS/Graphene Nanoribbon Composites toward Visible-Light Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Converting solar energy into chemical fuels is increasingly receiving a great deal of attention. In this work, CdS nanoparticles (NPs) are solvothermally anchored onto graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) that are longitudinally unzipped from multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The as-synthesized CdS/GNR nanocomposites with recyclability present GNR content-dependent activity in visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution from water splitting. In a range of 1-10 wt% GNRs, the CdS/GNR composites with 2 wt% GNRs achieves the greatest hydrogen evolution rate of 1.89 mmol h(-1) g(-1). The corresponding apparent quantum efficiency is 19.3%, which is approximate to 3.7 times higher than that of pristine CdS NPs. To elucidate the underlying photocatalytic mechanism, a systematic characterization, including in situ irradiated X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Kelvin probe measurements, is performed. In particular, the interfacial charge transfer pathway and process from CdS NPs to GNRs is revealed. This work may open avenues to fabricate GNR-based nanocomposites for solar-to-chemical energy conversion and beyond.