Formation of hybrid nanostructures comprising perovskite (Ba5Nb4O15)-MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets on CdS nanorods: Toward enhanced solar-driven H2 production

• Published in: Journal of catalysis Vol. 352; pp. 617 - 626
• Main Authors: Kim, Eun Hwa, Reddy, D. Amaranatha, Hong, Sangyeob, Park, Hanbit, Ma, Rory, Kumar, D. Praveen, Kim, Tae Kyu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.08.2017
• Subjects: CdS@Ba5Nb4O15/MoS2 nanohybrid; High stability; Photocatalytic hydrogen; Renewable energy; CdS@Ba5Nb4O15/MoS2 nanohybrid; Renewable energy; High stability; Photocatalytic hydrogen
• ISSN: 0021-9517; 1090-2694
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2017.06.033

This work demonstrates a novel design strategy for CdS/BNO‐MoS2 with applications as sunlight‐driven photocatalysts for hydrogen production. [Display omitted] •A perovskite(Ba5Nb4O15)-MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets on CdS nanorods was constructed.•A synthesized nanohybrids showed high activity for H2 production under visible light irradiation.•A Ba5Nb4O15 and MoS2 component acted as efficient photo-charge separator and migrator. Solar-driven semiconductor-catalyzed photocatalytic water splitting is an important and eco-friendly chemical technique for the production of clean hydrogen fuel. However, a cost-effective, efficient photocatalyst with perfect photon-to-hydrogen molecule conversion remains elusive. Novel, noble-metal-free hybrid nanostructures comprising perovskite (Ba5Nb4O15)-MoS2 ultrathin nanosheets on CdS nanorods, with efficient photo-charge separation and migration capability for efficient solar-driven hydrogen production are designed. The nano-hybrid structures display a high hydrogen production rate of 147mmol·g–1·h–1 in the presence of lactic acid as a sacrificial electron donor under simulated solar irradiation; this value is much higher than those of the CdS/MoS2 (124mmol·g–1·h–1) and CdS/Ba5Nb4O15 (18mmol·g–1·h–1) nanostructures and that of the expensive CdS/Pt benchmark catalyst (34.98mmol·g–1·h–1). The apparent quantum yield at 425nm reaches to 28.2% in 5h. Furthermore, the rate of solar-driven hydrogen evolution in the presence of the ultrathin perovskite Ba5Nb4O15/MoS2 nanohybrid on the CdS nanorods is much faster than that of several noble-metal-free co-catalyst-modified CdS nanostructures reported earlier. UV–Vis absorption, photoluminescence, photocurrent, and impedance analyses of CdS@Ba5Nb4O15/MoS2 reveal that the high photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate may due to the comparatively higher solar light-harvesting capacity and efficient charge separation and migration, which reduces the recombination rate. We anticipate that the presented design strategy for the development of noble metal-free catalysts combining perovskite and semiconductor nanostructures stimulate the development of diverse non-precious robust solar light-harvesting noble-metal-free materials for water splitting to satisfy the growing global energy demand.