A robust cocatalyst Pd4S uniformly anchored onto Bi2S3 nanorods for enhanced visible light photocatalysis

摘要

Pd4S is one of the main poisoning products of metallic Pd catalysts, caused by hydrogen sulfide, and its catalytic applications have not been given sufficient attention. Herein, a novel photocatalyst hybrid, Bi2S3 nanorods uniformly anchored by Pd4S nanoparticles, was successfully synthesized using a facile method and used for efficient visible light photocatalysis. Pd4S nanoparticles were formed in situ from the Bi2S3 nanorods through thermal reduction, and played an important role in the enhanced overall performance of this hybrid. The as-prepared Pd4S/Bi2S3 heterostructure exhibited superior electrochemical and photochemical properties and had a higher photocatalytic activity in the degradation of atrazine, a typical herbicide found in the environment, compared to both Pd4S and Bi2S3, individually. The uniformly dispersed Pd4S nanoparticles, substantially facilitate charge separation and transfer on the Bi2S3 nanorods, and then serve as active sites, leading to excellent photocatalytic capacity.