Stepped fluorinated CdS/MoS2/ZnS nanoparticles constructed on a multifunctional platform with Zn(OH)F nanoflowers for highly active photocatalytic H2 production

The design and synthesis of highly efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen production via morphological engineering and channel construction technology based on photogenerated carrier transfer is an effective method for solving the energy problem and reducing environmental pollution. However, developing inexpensive semiconductor catalysts with high photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity remains a challenging task. Herein, fluorinated CdS/MoS2/ZnS nanoparticles (CMZS NPs-F) with a precise surface distribution were prepared using Zn(OH)F nanoflowers as a multifunctional platform, for the efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production. Zn(OH)F not only limited the growth of CdS/ZnS NPs, but also provided F− ions to accelerate the carrier interfaciale transfer. Meanwhile, the rapid capture and transfer of charges by MoS2 increaed the hydrogen production rate of CMZS NPs-F to 11902 μmol·g−1·h−1, which was 13.9 times higher than that of CdS/ZnS. The results of experimental studies and density functional theory calculations that the observed increase in the hydrogen production rate was mainly due to the larger number of active sites, lower e-–h+ recombination efficiency and higher photogenerated charge transfer efficiency of CMZS NPs-F. This study provides deep insights into the photogenerated charge separation path and highly efficient catalytic hydrogen production.