Preparation of CdS-CoSx photocatalysts and their photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical characteristics for hydrogen production.

A facile method of loading CoS x nanosheet onto CdS nanorod has been designed, and the prepared CdS-CoS x composite catalyst exhibited significantly improved performance for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution compared with CdS catalyst. This composite catalyst was also used as a photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production. The hydrogen production rate reached 168.6 μmol cm−2 h−1 (37.77 L m−2 h−1) under the simulated solar light, which is 2.7 times that of CdS and the same as that of CdS–Pt. In addition, in the Na 2 S–Na 2 SO 3 system for PEC hydrogen production, an abnormal relationship between photocurrent and the hydrogen production yield was found. By designing a series of experiments, the photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical characteristics for hydrogen production were reasonably revealed for the first time. In this work, the prepared structured catalyst is easy to be recycled, and CoS x can replace precious metal Pt, showing a promising application. Image 1 • CoS x as co-catalyst is loaded on CdS nanorod by a facile method. • CdS-CoS x has good activity and stability for photoelectrochemical (PEC) reaction. • PEC activity of CdS-CoS x as photoanode for H 2 production is the same as that of CdS–Pt. • An abnormal relationship between photocurrent and hydrogen production is found. • The reaction network in Na 2 S–Na 2 SO 3 system for PEC H 2 production is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]