Facile fabrication of CdSe/CuInS2 microflowers with efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production activity

Photocatalytic water splitting to produce hydrogen has attracted extensive attention and exhibited broad development prospects. In this work, CuInS2 microflowers were fabricated through the solvothermal method, and decorated with CdSe quantum dots on the surface. As-prepared CdSe/CuInS2 microflowers exhibited high photocatalytic hydrogen production activity (10610.37 μmol g−1 h−1) and high AQE of 48.97% at 420 nm. The enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production activity owing to the construction of p-n heterostructure improved light absorption ability, increased electrons transfer efficiency and reduced recombination of photo-induced electrons and holes. Moreover, high stability and cyclic utilization of CdSe/CuInS2 microflowers were beneficial to photocatalytic hydrogen production application.