Multi-synergies of hollow CdS cubes on MoS2 sheets for enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalysis

Formation of intimate interfaces in semiconductor-based heteronanostructures (HNSs) is widely adopted to enhance the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution via water splitting because of their efficient light harvesting, charge carrier separation, and transfer capability originating from intimate interface. Here, we employ a multi-step approach, involving the direct growth of the photocatalytically active semiconductor (Cu2O) on MoS2 sheets, along with anion exchange and cation exchange methods to design hollow CdS cube/MoS2 sheet HNSs (H-CdS/MoS2 HNSs) consisting of intimate interfaces between hollow CdS cubes and MoS2 sheets. These distinctive morphological and compositional features endow H-CdS/MoS2 HNSs with exceptional charge transfer capability, intrinsic catalytic activity, and light-harvesting capacity. Consequently, H-CdS/MoS2 HNSs demonstrate significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance and stability for hydrogen evolution reactions and pollutant degradation under visible light irradiation compared to their binary and unary photocatalyst counterparts. This design strategy demonstrates the significance of forming intimate interfaces using hollow semiconductors in HNSs for advanced photocatalysis.