Microwave hydrothermal synthesis of WO3(H2O)0.333/CdS nanocomposites for efficient visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

WO3(H2O)(0.333)/CdS (WS) nanocomposites are obtained via a rapid microwave hydrothermal method, and they are served as visible light-driven photocatalysts for the H-2 generation. By using Pt as the cocatalyst, the WS nanocomposite with 70 wt.% CdS reaches the H-2 evolution rate of 10.32 mmol center dot g(-1)center dot h(-1), much quicker than those of WO3(H2O)(0.333) and CdS. The cycling test reveals the good photocatalytic stability of the WS nanocomposite. The carrier transfer mechanism of WS nanocomposites can be explained by the Z-scheme mechanism. The existence of the Z-scheme heterojunction greatly helps to separate photogenerated carriers and thus improves the photocatalytic activity. The present work provides a rapid synthesis method for preparing Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts, and may be helpful for the green production of hydrogen.