In Situ Fabrication of Robust Cocatalyst‐Free CdS/g‐C3N4 2D–2D Step‐Scheme Heterojunctions for Highly Active H2 Evolution. Issue 8 (14th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ren, Doudou; Zhang, Weinan; Ding, Yingna; Shen, Rongchen; Jiang, Zhimin; Lu, Xinyong; Li, Xin
• Other Names: Ong Wee-Jun guestEditor.; Maeda Kazuhiko guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Solar RRL. Volume 4:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-11-14
• Subjects: hydrogen evolution -- non-noble metals -- ultrathin nanosheets -- Z-scheme photocatalysts -- 2D/2D heterojunctions; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Photovoltaic power generation -- Periodicals; Solar energy -- Research -- Periodicals; Photovoltaic power generation -- Research -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 333.7923
• DOI: 10.1002/solr.201900423
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2367-198X

Abstract

Abstract : Efficient H2 O splitting for H2 evolution over the semiconductor photocatalyst is a crucial strategy in the field of energy and environment. Herein, cocatalyst‐free 2D–2D CdS/g‐C3 N4 step‐scheme (S‐scheme) heterojunction photocatalysts are fabricated through in situ hydrothermal growth of 2D CdS nanosheets (NSs) on 2D g‐C3 N4 NSs. The results clearly confirm that the binary CdS/0.7g‐C3 N4 S‐scheme heterojunction shows the best H2 production rate (15.3 mmol g −1 h −1 ) without using any cocatalyst, which is 3.83 times and 3060 times higher than those of pure CdS and g‐C3 N4, respectively. The apparent efficiency of CdS/0.7g‐C3 N4 at 420 nm is 6.86%. Importantly, the as‐prepared CdS/0.7g‐C3 N4 S‐scheme heterojunction has good stability when continuously irradiated for 21 h. The improved stability and activity are attributed to the formation of the S‐scheme heterojunction, which can markedly accelerate the interfacial charge separation for surface reaction. It is expected that the design of robust cocatalyst‐free CdS/g‐C3 N4 2D–2D S‐scheme heterojunction can become a promising approach to develop the highly active H2 evolution systems based on various kinds of conventional semiconductor NSs. Abstract : Cocatalyst‐free CdS/g‐C3 N4 2D‐2D step‐scheme heterojunctions exhibit significantly enhanced visible‐light photocatalytic H2 evolution.