The enhanced photocatalytic activity of Zn0.5Cd0.5S with Co3S4 cocatalyst as electron trapper

The conversion of solar energy into H2 energy by photocatalytic biomass decomposition has become a research hotspot in recent years. In this work, Co3S4/Zn0.5Cd0.5S (CS/ZCS) composites with a series of mass ratio were prepared by loading ZCS nanoparticles on the surface of Co3S4 polyhedron, and characterized by many advanced tests. Moreover, their photocatalytic activity of H2 production were explored by biomass decomposition, like lactic acid (LA) and benzyl alcohol (PhCH2OH). When the amount of Co3S4 cocatalyst is 4 wt%, the H2 production of the composite photocatalyst reaches the highest, which is 17.86 mmol center dot g-1 center dot h-1 for LA and 20.07 mmol center dot g-1 center dot h-1 for PhCH2OH, much higher than ZCS nanoparticles. Co3S4 cocatalyst as the electrons (e-) trapper of ZCS, enhances the absorption of visible light and improves the migration efficiency of the photogenerated charge carriers (PCCs), thus greatly increasing the photocatalytic H2 production. This work may play an important role in improving H2 production from biomass decomposition for metal sulfide.(c) 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.