Cauliflower-like CuS/ZnS nanocomposites decorated g-C3N4 nanosheets as noble metal-free photocatalyst for superior photocatalytic water splitting

A promising cauliflower like morphology of CuS/ZnS/g-C3N4 is developed as an effective visible-light driven photocatalyst via a facile hydrothermal route followed by ultrasound assisted wet impregnation method and cation exchange treatment. As prepared CuS/ZnS/g-C3N4 nanocomposites were characterized using various analytical techniques to confirm the composite formation and study their morphology, structure and band gap. Na2S and Na2SO3 solutes illuminated by 250 W halogen lamp are employed to evaluate the hydrogen production capability of as prepared photocatalyst. The results revealed the superior photocatalytic activity in hydrogen production reaction by as prepared CuS/ZnS/g-C3N4 nanocomposites against g-C3N4, ZnS and CuS/ZnS photocatalysts. We have achieved the highest hydrogen production rate of 9868 μmol h−1 g−1 by the composite containing 5 wt% of g-C3N4 with excellent durability during photocatalytic hydrogen production. This excellent performance attributed to the increased absorption level of visible light in the nanocomposite and higher stability of electron-hole pairs created upon irradiation.