CdS QDs decorated on 3D flower-like SnO: a hierarchical photocatalyst with boosted charge separation for hydrogen production

• Published in: New journal of chemistry Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 3 - 38
• Main Authors: Tan, Pengfei, Yang, Lu, Liu, Hele, Zhang, Yi, Zhou, Binhua, Pan, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 18.12.2023
• ISSN: 1144-0546; 1369-9261
• DOI: 10.1039/d3nj03611a

Developing novel catalysts with excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity is crucial for expediting current research on solar-chemical energy conversion. In the present study, unique Sn 3 O 4 /CdS composites were carefully designed and prepared using a facile hydrothermal method to achieve outstanding photocatalytic H 2 production activity. Various techniques were employed to determine the crystalline structure, chemical composition, microstructure, and optical and electrochemical characteristics of the prepared samples. The experimental results indicate that zero-dimensional (0D) CdS quantum dots were tightly attached to the surface of three-dimensional (3D) Sn 3 O 4 nanoflowers. Furthermore, enhanced light-absorbing capacity and accelerated electron-hole separation and transfer were achieved after incorporating CdS quantum dots into Sn 3 O 4 nanoflowers. The generation rate of hydrogen using the optimal sample (Sn 3 O 4 /CdS QDs-2) was about 20.74 μmol g −1 h −1 , which was 2.86 and 3.16 times those of pure Sn 3 O 4 and CdS, respectively. In addition, the possible photocatalytic H 2 production mechanism of Sn 3 O 4 /CdS nanocomposites was also revealed. This work is highly desirable to provide valuable inspiration for rational design and preparation of efficient photocatalysts for H 2 evolution. 0D/3D Sn 3 O 4 /CdS nanocomposites were prepared for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light irradiation.