In situ photo-assisted deposition of MoS₂ electrocatalyst onto zinc cadmium sulphide nanoparticle surfaces to construct an efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen generation.

Mai Nguyen, Phong D Tran, Stevin S Pramana, Rui Lin Lee, Sudip K Batabyal, Nripan Mathews, Lydia H Wong, Michael Graetzel

Index: Nanoscale 5(4) , 1479-82, (2013)

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Abstract

We reported herein a facile and scalable preparation process for MoS(2)-decorated Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S hybrid photocatalysts for hydrogen generation. Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S nanopowder was first prepared from commercially available precursors employing a solution based process. MoS(2) hydrogen evolution reaction catalyst was then loaded onto the Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S nanopowder via a photo-assisted deposition process which employed mild conditions (room temperature, atmospheric pressure and visible light illumination). Thus, this process represents an important advantage in the large scale production of semiconductor/MoS(2) hybrid photocatalysts in comparison to the conventional method relying on thermal decomposition of (NH(4))(2)[MoS(4)] precursor at high temperature and under H(2)S pressure. The best Zn(0.2)Cd(0.8)S/MoS(2) 3% showed two hundred-and-ten times (210 times) faster hydrogen generation rate on visible light illumination compared with that obtained for un-treated Zn(0.2)Cd(0.8)S. That was the most impressive catalytic enhancement ever recorded for a semiconductor photocatalyst decorated with a noble metal free electrocatalyst.