MnS/Mn_0.5Cd_0.5S nanorods modified with Cu₂MoS₄ nanoplates for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

In this paper, a series of highly efficient, noble metal-free 2D lamellar Cu2MoS4 modified 1D short rod-like MnS/Mn0.5Cd0.5S nanocomposites were obtained by hydrothermal impregnation. The prepared samples were subjected to different characterization tests, and the photocatalytic activity test results revealed that the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of the composite Cu2MoS4/MnS/Mn0.5Cd0.5S reached 22.4 mmol g(-1) h(-1) under visible light (& lambda; > 420 nm) irradiation in the sacrificial reagent Na2S-Na2SO3 with a Cu2MoS4 loading of 10 wt%, which is 2.3 times higher than that of pure MnS/Mn0.5Cd0.5S. Due to the loading of the co-catalyst Cu2MoS4, the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of the composites was improved as a result of the reduction in the compounding of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and enhancement in the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers. This paper provides an idea for the synthesis of noble metal-free nanocomposites as co-catalysts to enhance photocatalytic activity.