A Multifunctional Solar-Driven Formic Acid Decomposition System Using Bimetallic Phosphides/CdS as Catalysts to Obtain H2, CO, or Syngas

A simple hybrid system is constructed using CdS as photocatalyst and transition metal phosphides as cocatalysts for selectively photocatalytic formic acid decomposition under visible light irradiation at room temperature. By adjusting FA decomposition conditions, different products of H-2, CO, or syngas can be obtained according to different demands. With the assistance of bimetallic phosphides as cocatalysts, the H-2 and CO production efficiencies can reach up to 138.3 and 116.1 mu mol mg(-1) h(-1) at pH = 1.5 and 9.2, respectively. At pH = 4.4, the syngas efficiency can reach up to 306.9 mu mol mg(-1) h(-1), including 101.4 mu mol mg(-1) h(-1) H-2 and 205.5 mu mol mg(-1) h(-1) CO. Moreover, the present heterogeneous system also exhibits excellent photocatalytic stability and still keeps high rates after the five-cycle reaction, indicating its potential application value.