Hydrated electrons mediated in-situ construction of cubic phase CdS/Cd thin layer on a millimeter-scale support for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

In this study, non-noble metal Cd decorated cubic phase CdS (CdS/Cd) thin layer on a millimeter-scale chitosan-Mg(OH)(2) xerogel beads (CMB) were elaborately designed and successfully synthesized via facile hydrated electrons (e(aq)(center dot)) assistant strategy. The in-situ formation of metallic Cd was driven by e(aq)(center dot) generated from UV/Na2SO3 process. Owing to metallic Cd, CMB@CdS/Cd exhibited better visible-light absorption ability and more efficient separation capability for photo-induced carriers, its hydrogen production efficiency was about threefold improved compared to CMB@CdS. Both characterization methods and density functional theory calculations determined a built-in electric field from metallic Cd to CdS and Ohmic-contact between Cd and CdS, which largely promoted the carriers transfer efficiency. Moreover, the introduction of metallic Cd on the CdS could reduce the Delta G(H*), thus greatly boosting the photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency. This work provides a simple and green approach to construct metallic Cd coupled semiconductor to achieve efficient photocatalytic applications. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

By surface decorating a non-noble metal Cd thin layer on chitosan-Mg(OH)(2) xerogel beads using a facile hydrated electrons strategy, the photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency was improved. The introduction of metallic Cd promoted carrier transfer efficiency and reduced the free energy of hydrogen atoms, resulting in an enhanced photocatalytic efficiency.