Rational designing 0D/1D Z-scheme heterojunction on CdS nanorods for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 evolution

Rational design and construction of unique transmission channel in photocatalyst system is of great significance for promoting the efficient spatial separation of photo-induced charge carriers. This work reports a novel 0D/1D direct Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst synthesized by in-situ anchoring W18O49 QDs onto the surface of CdS NRs. Due to this unique structural design, both bulk and surface photogenerated carriers are separated efficiently, achieving a dramatically improved photocatalytic H2 evolution performance. The optimal of H2 production rate of the W18O49/CdS heterostructure is as high as 55.24 mmol·h−1·g−1, with lactic acid as sacrificial reagents under visible light irradiation, which is approximately 110.5 and 3.7 times as that of pure CdS NRs and Pt/CdS, respectively. Even in the absence of hole scavengers, the optimal WCS300 composite exhibits an obvious photocatalytic H2 evolution activity accompanied by the generation of considerable H2O2. This work provides a new protocol for the development of efficient photocatalyst systems.