Metal-organic frameworks derived porous MoS2/CdS heterostructure for efficient photocatalytic performance towards hydrogen evolution and organic pollutants

Photocatalytic technology is a unique method of treating energy crisis and environmental concern. Herein, Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were employed to prepare a series of visible light responsive MoS2/CdS heterojunction photocatalysts by facile low-temperature hydrothermal sulfurization. The structural analysis revealed that the prepared MoS2/CdS heterojunction exhibited highly porous structure and the intimate interface was formed between the MoS2 and CdS. For these structure features, the charge separation and transfer were significantly improved, and the MoS2/CdS heterojunction presented efficient photocatalytic activity towards hydrogen evolution and degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). The highest H2 evolution rate (3318 μmol h−1 g−1) was found at the 5 wt%-MoS2/CdS, which were 10 times and 6 times of pristine MoS2 and CdS, respectively. In particular, the 5 wt%-MoS2/CdS can also remove 95% RhB and 90% TC within 40 min. Moreover, the MoS2/CdS heterojunction showed good photocatalytic stability for hydrogen evolution and degradation of RhB and TC. Furthermore, the radical trapping experiment revealed that the photogenerated · O2− played critical role in RhB degradation and the hole (h+) and · O2− were essential for TC degradation. The work will provide a guidance for rational design and facile preparation of photocatalyst for the visible light-driven hydrogen evolution and elimination of organic pollutants.