NiS sheets modified CdS/reduced graphene oxide composite for efficient visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and NiS sheets cocatalysts modified CdS hybrid photocatalysts were successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal method for photocatalytic water splitting. RGO and NiS as cocatalysts can remarkably improve the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and photoelectronchemical activity. High hydrogen evolution rate with 14.96 mmol h−1 g−1 has been achieved with 1 wt.% RGO and 5 mol% NiS emersion in CdS/NiS/RGO hybrid photocatalysts, which is 36.5 and 8.5 times than that of pure CdS and CdS-1%Pt. The excellent catalytic activity is attributed to the increased light absorption and reduced recombination of charge carries due to the synergetic effect between RGO and NiS. The work could provide some potential opportunities for designing other ternary hybrid photocatalysts for water splitting.