Ultrathin Ni(OH)2 nanosheets decorated with Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanoparticles as 2D/0D heterojunctions for highly enhanced visible light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

doi:10.1016/S1872-2067(20)63728-7

Abstract

Abstract:

Designing and fabricating highly efficient photocatalysts for water splitting is a promising strategy to address energy and environmental issues. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) has received significant interest as a photocatalyst for visible-light-induced hydrogen (H₂) generation. However, the severe photocorrosion, high overpotential, rapid charge recombination, and sluggish surface reaction kinetics drastically hinder its practical application in water splitting. Herein, uniform zinc cadmium sulfide (Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S) nanoparticles were anchored on ultrathin Ni(OH)₂ nanosheets via a facile solution-phase approach to form an intimate two-dimensional (2D)/zero-dimensional (0D) heterojunction. Under visible light irradiation, the 7%Ni(OH)₂/Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S composite exhibited the highest H₂ production rate of 6.87 mmol·h^-1·g^-1 with an apparent quantum yield of 16.8% at 420 nm, which is almost 43 times higher than that of pristine Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S and considerably higher than that of the Pt/Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S photocatalyst. The high photoactivity of the 2D/0D Ni(OH)₂/Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S heterojunction can be ascribed to its unique and robust structure, wherein the ultrathin Ni(OH)₂ nanosheets not only provide an excellent platform for the incorporation of Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S nanoparticles but also serve as an effective cocatalyst to promote photoinduced electron transfer and offer more active sites for photocatalytic H₂ generation. This work paves the way toward the development of versatile, low-cost, and highly efficient 2D/0D heterojunction photocatalysts for solar energy conversion.

Key words: Nickel hydroxide nanosheets, Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S nanoparticles, Cocatalyst, 2D/0D nanoheterostructures, Photocatalytic H₂ generation

Xueyou Gao, Deqian Zeng, Jingren Yang, Wee-Jun Ong, Toyohisa Fujita, Xianglong He, Jieqian Liu, Yuezhou Wei. Ultrathin Ni(OH)₂ nanosheets decorated with Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S nanoparticles as 2D/0D heterojunctions for highly enhanced visible light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution[J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, 2021, 42(7): 1137-1146.

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URL: https://www.cjcatal.com/EN/10.1016/S1872-2067(20)63728-7

https://www.cjcatal.com/EN/Y2021/V42/I7/1137

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1. XRD patterns of pristine Ni(OH)2, Zn0.5Cd0.5S, and Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S composites with different contents of Ni(OH)2 nanosheets.

Fig. 2. TEM (a) and HRTEM (b) images of Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanoparticles; TEM (c) and HRTEM (d) images of Ni(OH)2 nanosheets.

Fig. 3. SEM (a), TEM (b), and HRTEM (c,d) images of 7%Ni(OH)2/ Zn0.5Cd0.5S.

Fig. 4. HADDF-STEM image (a) of 7%Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S sample and corresponding STEM-EDX elemental mapping images (b-f) for Zn, Cd, S, Ni, and O, respectively.

Fig. 5. UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra of as-synthesized pristine Ni(OH)2, Zn0.5Cd0.5S, and Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S composites.

Fig. 6. XPS survey scans (a) of pristine Zn0.5Cd0.5S, Ni(OH)2, and 7%Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S composite. High-resolution XPS profiles of Zn 2p (b), Cd 3d (c), and S 2p (d) levels in Zn0.5Cd0.5S and 7%Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S. High-resolution XPS profiles of Ni 2p (e) and O 1s (f) levels in Ni(OH)2 and 7%Ni(OH)2/ Zn0.5Cd0.5S.

Fig. 7. (a) Photocatalytic H2 production activities of Zn0.5Cd0.5S, Ni(OH)2, Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S, and 3%Pt/Zn0.5Cd0.5S; ND = not detected. (b) Recycling tests of photocatalytic H2 generation over 7%Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S.

Fig. 8. (a) Transient photocurrent response curves of pristine Zn0.5Cd0.5S and 7%Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S; (b) EIS Nyquist plots of pristine Ni(OH)2, Zn0.5Cd0.5S, and 7%Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S samples.

Fig. 9. LSV curves (a) and TRPL spectra (b) of 7%Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S and pristine Zn0.5Cd0.5S.

Fig. 10. Schematic illustration of charge transfer process in Ni(OH)2/Zn0.5Cd0.5S system during photocatalytic H2 evolution.

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Ultrathin Ni(OH)₂ nanosheets decorated with Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S nanoparticles as 2D/0D heterojunctions for highly enhanced visible light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

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