ZnxCd1-xS nanoparticles dispersed on CoAl-layered double hydroxide in 2D heterostructure for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Hongying Li; Xuqiang Hao; Yang Liu; Yanbing Li; Zhiliang Jin

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2020.03.052

Zn_xCd_1-xS nanoparticles dispersed on CoAl-layered double hydroxide in 2D heterostructure for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2020 Jul 15:572:62-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.03.052. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Authors

Hongying Li¹, Xuqiang Hao¹, Yang Liu¹, Yanbing Li¹, Zhiliang Jin²

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, PR China; Ningxia Key Laboratory of Solar Chemical Conversion Technology, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, PR China; Key Laboratory for Chemical Engineering and Technology, State Ethnic Affairs Commission, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, PR China.
² School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, PR China; Ningxia Key Laboratory of Solar Chemical Conversion Technology, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, PR China; Key Laboratory for Chemical Engineering and Technology, State Ethnic Affairs Commission, North Minzu University, Yinchuan 750021, PR China. Electronic address: zl-jin@nun.edu.cn.

PMID: 32222603
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.03.052

Abstract

CoAl-LDH and Zn_xCd_1-xS (ZCS) were successfully assembled. By studying the microstructure of the catalysts, it was found that the agglomerated ZCS nanoparticles were equably dispersed on the hexagonal plate-like CoAl-LDH surface. The increase of the specific surface area of the composite catalyst further proves that the agglomeration state of ZCS nanoparticles has been improved. When the mass of the introduced CoAl-LDH is 20% of the ZCS, the maximum hydrogen production after the optimization is 1516 μmol/5h, which is about 6.9 times that of pure ZCS. UV-vis DRS in the range of 250-800 nm proved that the visible light absorption intensity of the composite is enhanced compared to pure materials. Electrochemical and photoluminescence experiments proved that the heterostructure formed between ZCS and CoAl-LDH accelerates photoelectron transfer and inhibits the recombination of electrons and holes. In addition, possible mechanisms of the sample were explored by UV-vis DRS and Mott-Schottcky.

Keywords: Heterostructure; Hydrogen evolution; Layered double hydroxides; Zn(x)Cd(1-x)S.