One-dimensional shell-core nanorods of NiO@Cd0?75Zn0?25S as Schottky junction photocatalyst with rich sulfur vacancies for enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution

摘要

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction is one of the remarkable methods to produce clean and renewable fuel. However, the application of photocatalysts is still restricted because of the high recombination rate of photo-excited carriers and low photocatalytic activity. Herein, one-dimensional shell-core Schottky junction NiO@Cd0 center dot 75Zn0 center dot 25S com-posite nanorods have been synthesized successfully by self-assembly growing on the surface of Cd0 center dot 75Zn0 center dot 25S (CZS) nanorods with rich sulfur vacancies. The improved photo -catalyst NiO@Cd0 center dot 75Zn0 center dot 25S sample (CN-0.15) exhibits a highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 745.41 mmol h-1 with 5 mg photocatalyst (corresponding to 149.1 mmol g-1 h-1) and apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) 12.5 at 420 nm, which is 5 times higher than that of pure CZS. Series results of characterizations and density func-tional theory (DFT) calculation provide a novel strategy for constructing Schottky junction by multi-step interfacial and defect engineering for H2 evolution.(c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.