Synthesis of CdS/MoS2 Nanooctahedrons Heterostructure with a Tight Interface for Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Evolution and Biomass Upgrading

With the depletion of fossil fuels and environmental contamination, photocatalytic H-2 production has become an essential issue. Co-catalysts play a critical role in improving photocatalytic H-2 generation of photocatalysts. However, co-catalysts frequently need additional synthesis steps for loading on the surface of photocatalysts, and the interface contact between the co-catalyst and the photocatalyst is insufficient. Herein, a CdS/MoS2 nanooctahedron heterostructure is prepared through the in situ sulfidation of CdMoO4 nanooctahedrons. MoS2 as the co-catalyst provides active sites for H-2 generation and enhances the separation of photo-generated carriers. Furthermore, the sulfidation of CdMoO4 precursors ensures a tight contact interface by S atoms between CdS and MoS2, which is beneficial to the electrons transfer from CdS to MoS2, thus markedly improving the photocatalytic H-2 evolution activity. The obtained optimum CdS/MoS2 nanooctahedrons exhibit a better photocatalytic H-2 generation activity than those of pure CdS, pure MoS2, and even CdS/MoS2 by hydrothermal synthesis under visible light irradiation. In addition, solar-driven biomass upgrading of furfural alcohol, bacterial cellulose membrane, bioplastic wastes upgrading of polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and their reforming to H-2 are also performed and demonstrate an inexpensive route to drive aqueous proton reduction to H-2 through waste biomass oxidation.