Constructing a MoS₂ QDs/CdS Core/Shell Flowerlike Nanosphere Hierarchical Heterostructure for the Enhanced Stability and Photocatalytic Activity

Shijing Liang; Zhouming Zhou; Xiuqin Wu; Shuying Zhu; Jinhong Bi; Limin Zhou; Minghua Liu; Ling Wu

doi:10.3390/molecules21020213

Constructing a MoS₂ QDs/CdS Core/Shell Flowerlike Nanosphere Hierarchical Heterostructure for the Enhanced Stability and Photocatalytic Activity

Molecules. 2016 Feb 15;21(2):213. doi: 10.3390/molecules21020213.

Authors

Shijing Liang^{1

2

3}, Zhouming Zhou⁴, Xiuqin Wu⁵, Shuying Zhu⁶, Jinhong Bi^{7

8}, Limin Zhou⁹, Minghua Liu^{10

11}, Ling Wu¹²

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China. sjliang2011@gmail.com.
² Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Environment and Resource Fuzhou University, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China. sjliang2011@gmail.com.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. sjliang2011@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Environment and Resource Fuzhou University, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China. fdzhouzming@163.com.
⁵ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Environment and Resource Fuzhou University, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China. wxqbelieve@163.com.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China. liangzhu-2015@outlook.com.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China. bijinhong@fzu.edu.cn.
⁸ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Environment and Resource Fuzhou University, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China. bijinhong@fzu.edu.cn.
⁹ Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. mmlmzhou@polyu.edu.hk.
¹⁰ State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China. mhliu2000@fzu.edu.cn.
¹¹ Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, College of Environment and Resource Fuzhou University, Minhou, Fujian 350108, China. mhliu2000@fzu.edu.cn.
¹² State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China. wuling@fzu.edu.cn.

Abstract

MoS₂ quantum dots (QDs)/CdS core/shell nanospheres with a hierarchical heterostructure have been prepared by a simple microwave hydrothermal method. The as-prepared samples are characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM, UV-VIS diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and N₂-sorption in detail. The photocatalytic activities of the samples are evaluated by water splitting into hydrogen. Results show that the as-prepared MoS₂ QDs/CdS core/shell nanospheres with a diameter of about 300 nm are composed of the shell of CdS nanorods and the core of MoS₂ QDs. For the photocatalytic reaction, the samples exhibit a high stability of the photocatalytic activity and a much higher hydrogen evolution rate than the pure CdS, the composite prepared by a physical mixture, and the Pt-loaded CdS sample. In addition, the stability of CdS has also been greatly enhanced. The effect of the reaction time on the formations of nanospheres, the photoelectric properties and the photocatalytic activities of the samples has been investigated. Finally, a possible photocatalytic reaction process has also been proposed.

Keywords: CdS-based composite; MoS2 QDs; core-shell structure; photocatalysis; water splitting.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cadmium Compounds / chemical synthesis*
Cadmium Compounds / chemistry
Catalysis
Disulfides / chemistry*
Hydrogen / chemistry
Molybdenum / chemistry*
Nanospheres / chemistry*
Particle Size
Photochemical Processes
Quantum Dots / chemistry*

Substances

Cadmium Compounds
Disulfides
Hydrogen
Molybdenum
molybdenum disulfide