Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (5): 743-752.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(20)63695-6

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Enhanced photocatalytic H2 production performance of CdS hollow spheres using C and Pt as bi-cocatalysts

Shipeng Tanga, Yang Xiaa, Jiajie Fanb, Bei Chenga, Jiaguo Yua,*(), Wingkei Hoc,#()   

  1. aState Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, Hubei, China
    bSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
    cDepartment of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, N. T. Hong Kong 999077, China
  • Received:2020-06-17 Accepted:2020-06-17 Online:2021-05-18 Published:2021-01-29
  • Contact: Jiaguo Yu,Wingkei Ho
  • About author:# E-mail: keithho@eduhk.hk
    * Tel: +86-27-87871029; Fax: +86-27-87879468; E-mail: jiaguoyu@yahoo.com;
  • Supported by:
    National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFB1502001);National Natural Science Foundation of China(51932007);National Natural Science Foundation of China(51961135303);National Natural Science Foundation of China(U1905215);National Natural Science Foundation of China(21871217);National Natural Science Foundation of China(U1705251);Innovative Research Funds of Foshan Xianhu Laboratory of the Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory(XHD2020-001);General Research Fund-Research Grant Council of Hong Kong Government(18301117);Dean Research Fund 19-20, EdUHK

Abstract:

Photocatalytic H2 production from water splitting is an effective method to solve energy crisis and environmental pollution simultaneously. Herein, carbon@CdS composite hollow spheres (C@CdS-HS) are fabricated via a facile hydrothermal method using porous carbon hollow spheres (C-HS) as the template. The C@CdS-HS shows an excellent photocatalytic H2-generation rate of 20.9 mmol h-1 g-1 (apparent quantum efficiency of 15.3% at 420 nm), with 1.0 wt% Pt as a cocatalyst under simulated sunlight irradiation; this rate is 69.7, 13.9, and 3.9 times higher than that obtained with pure CdS hollow spheres (CdS-HS), C@CdS-HS, and CdS-HS/Pt, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic H2-evolution activity of C@CdS-HS/Pt is due to the synergistic effect of C and Pt as the bi-cocatalyst. The C-HS serves not only as an active site provider but also as an electron transporter and reservoir. Moreover, C-HS has a strong photothermal effect that is induced by near infrared light, which kinetically accelerates the H2-production reaction. Additionally, the underlying charge transfer pathway and process from CdS to C-HS is revealed. This work highlights the potential application of C-HS-based nanocomposites in solar-to-chemical energy conversion.

Key words: CdS hollow sphere, Carbon, Platinum, Bi-cocatalyst, Synergistic effect, Photocatalytic hydrogen production