Designing 0D/2D CdS nanoparticles/g-C3N4 nanosheets heterojunction as efficient photocatalyst for improved H2-evolution

Rational design of heterojunction photocatalysts is an effective strategy to promote the separation efficiency of photoinduced e−-h+, and optimize the photostability of the photocatalytic system. Here, an 0D/2D heterojunction containing CdS nanoparticles (NPs) and g-C3N4 nanosheets (NSs) was successfully constructed through chemical precipitation route. The CdS NPs grown on g-C3N4 NSs uniformly ensured an intimate contact interface for enhancing the photogenerated e−-h+ separation. Furthermore, the g-C3N4 NSs/CdS NPs exhibited a superior photocatalytic H2 generation rate of 3.67 mmol g−1 h−1 which was 19-times higher than that of CdS NPs, and also showed an increased photostability. Such increased photocatalytic efficiency may arise from the presence of the intimate contact interface between the 0D CdS NPs and the 2D g-C3N4 NSs and internal electric field (IEF)-induced type-II charge carriers transfer route, thereby promoting the separation of photoinduced charges and prohibiting the photocorrosion of CdS. This study provides a new avenue for designing and constructing effective heterojunction photocatalysts.