Constructing a noble-metal-free 0D/2D CdS/SnS2heterojunction for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic pollutant degradation and hydrogen generation

Hanmei Hu; Yunyun He; Hong Yu; Dongcai Li; Mei Sun; Yanyan Feng; Chuanyue Zhang; Haoran Chen; Chonghai Deng

doi:10.1088/1361-6528/acfaa6

Constructing a noble-metal-free 0D/2D CdS/SnS₂heterojunction for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic pollutant degradation and hydrogen generation

Nanotechnology. 2023 Oct 9;34(50). doi: 10.1088/1361-6528/acfaa6.

Authors

Hanmei Hu^{1

2}, Yunyun He¹, Hong Yu¹, Dongcai Li², Mei Sun¹, Yanyan Feng³, Chuanyue Zhang³, Haoran Chen³, Chonghai Deng³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Functional Molecule Design and Interface Process, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, 230601, People's Republic of China.
² Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Advanced Building Materials, Anhui Jianzhu University, Hefei, 230601, People's Republic of China.
³ School of Energy Materials and Chemical Engineering, Hefei University, Hefei, 230601, People's Republic of China.

PMID: 37722361
DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/acfaa6

Abstract

Semiconductor photocatalysis has attracted the attention of a wide audience for its outstanding capabilities in water purification and energy conversion. Herein, a noble-metal-free nanoheterojunction is created by planting zero-dimensional (0D) CdS nanograins, of 10-20 nm in size, on the surface of 2D SnS₂nanosheets (NSs) using anin situchemical bathing deposition process, where SnS₂NSs have an average diameter of 400 nm and thicknesses of less than 20 nm. The possible formation mechanism of the CdS/SnS₂(CS/SS) heterogeneous nanostructure is elaborated upon. The catalytic activities over CS/SS nanocomposites for the photodegradation of organic dye and hydrogen evolution from photolysis water splitting are examined under visible light irradiation. The apparent rate constant (k) of the optimal CS/SS-3 composite in the decontamination of methylene blue (MB) is up to 3.34 and 1.87 times as high as that of pristine SnS₂and pure CdS counterparts, respectively. The optimized CS/SS-3 sample consistently achieves the highest photocatalytic hydrogen production rate, at 10.3 and 5.7 folds higher than that of solo SnS₂and CdS panels, respectively. The boosted photocatalytic capacities of CdS/SnS₂heterostructures are essentially attributed to the formation of the closely interfacial incorporation of CdS and SnS₂semiconductors, resulting in the effective charge transportation and spatial separation of the photoinduced electron-hole pairs. Furthermore, the traditional type-II charge transfer pathway is proposed based on the perfect band structure and the free radical experiment results.

Keywords: CdS/SnS2 nanocomposite; hydrogen generation; photocatalysis; type-II heterojunction; water purification.