Layered deposited MoS2 nanosheets on acorn leaf like CdS as an efficient anti-photocorrosion photocatalyst for hydrogen production

Photocatalytic hydrogen production through water splitting is an appealing technology to alleviate the escalating fossil fuel energy crisis. The advancement of visible-light-driven hydrogen production systems is a crucial aspect of hydrogen research. In this study, we successfully synthesized a unique acorn leaf-like CdS/MoS2 material via a hydrothermal method, with layered deposited MoS2 nanosheets, for driving hydrogen generation under illumination. By systematically varying the sodium molybdate concentration, we looked into how the MoS2 affected the optical properties and photocatalytic performance of the acorn-leaf-like CdS/MoS2. Under illumination, the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of the acorn leaf-like CdS/MoS2 reached 70.05 mmol·g−1·h−1 (at a catalyst dosage of 10 mg), which is approximately 330 times higher than the unmodified CdS original material. It was determined that the apparent quantum yield at 450 nm was 2.104 %, corresponding to a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 9.383 %. Mechanistic investigations revealed that MoS2 nanosheets function as co-catalysts and electron acceptors, effectively promoting electron transfer and the separation of photogenerated charge carriers from CdS, thereby consequently enhancing the kinetics of surface hydrogen evolution. This work offers valuable insights into the development of efficient photocatalysts with anti-photocorrosion properties for sustainable hydrogen production.