Fabrication of ZnS/CdS Heterojunction by Using Bimetallic MOFs Template for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

A new ZnS/CdS heterojunction is constructed through the direct sulfurization of a metal ions exchanged Zn/Cd-MOF precursor(MOF=metal-organic framework material). The composition, structure, morphology, photoabsorption and photoelectric performance of the ZnS/CdS are characterized by powder X-ray diffraction(PXRD), scanning electron microscope(SEM), transmission electron microscope(TEM), diffuse reflection spectrum(DRS), photoelectric current(PEC), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) and photoluminescence(PL) technologies. Since the metal ions are highly orderly separated by the organic ligands and the inherent porosity of the Zn/Cd-MOF, the as-synthesized ZnS/CdS possesses a large surface area and intimate contact at the heterogeneous interface with uniform ZnS/CdS nanoparticles. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of the ZnS/CdS is investigated under visible light irradiation(λ⩾420 nm). It exhibits enhanced photocatalytic performance that the optimal ZnS/CdS achieves a maximum average hydrogen production rate of 2348 µmol·h−1·g−1. A possible electron transfer mechanism is therefore proposed by the analyses of the Mott-Schottky plots.