CdS-loaded multivalent MnO_x co-catalysts for enhanced hydrogen production performance

School of Petrochemical Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu, China

^* Corresponding author: wind_2000_love@163.com

Abstract

Hydrogen production by decomposing water using semiconductor photocatalysts is considered a promising method capable of producing clean energy and solving environmental problems. Hexagonalphase CdS single crystals with layer-stacked hexagonal nanosheet structure were synthesized by hydrothermal method by adjusting the synthesis conditions of CdS, which simultaneously exposed different crystalline surfaces. A multivalent MnO_x co-catalyst was loaded on CdS by photodeposition, which acts as an oxidation co-catalyst and tends to collect holes. The unique structural features of the two co-catalysts with different valence states of Mn greatly inhibited the complexation of photogenerated electrons and holes, which favored the charge separation and transfer, and the performance of the photocatalysts was greatly improved with a hydrogen production rate of 1.31 mmolꞏg^-1ꞏh^-1.