Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production over NiS-Modified Cadmium and Manganese Sulfide Solid Solutions

Abstract

In this work, new photocatalysts based on Cd1−xMnxS sulfide solid solutions were synthesized by varying the fraction of MnS (x = 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8) and the hydrothermal treatment temperature (T = 100, 120, 140, and 160 °C). The active samples were modified with Pt and NiS co-catalysts. Characterization was performed using various methods, including XRD, XPS, HR TEM, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity was tested in hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions of Na2S/Na2SO3 and glucose under visible light (425 nm). When studying the process of hydrogen evolution using an equimolar mixture of Na2S/Na2SO3 as a sacrificial agent, the photocatalysts Cd0.5Mn0.5S/Mn(OH)2 (T = 120 °C) and Cd0.4Mn0.6S (T = 160 °C) demonstrated the highest activity among the non-modified solid solutions. The deposition of NiS co-catalyst led to a significant increase in activity. The best activity in the case of the modified samples was shown by 0.5 wt.% NiS/Cd0.5Mn0.5S (T = 120 °C) at the extraordinary level of 34.2 mmol g−1 h−1 (AQE 14.4%) for the Na2S/Na2SO3 solution and 4.6 mmol g−1 h−1 (AQE 2.9%) for the glucose solution. The nickel-containing samples possessed a high stability in solutions of both sodium sulfide/sulfite and glucose. Thus, nickel sulfide is considered an alternative to depositing precious metals, which is attractive from an economic point of view. It worth noting that the process of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from sugar solutions by adding samples based on Cd1−xMnxS has not been studied before.

S-Scheme System of MoS2/Co3O4 Nanocomposites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution and Methyl Violet Dye Removal under Visible Light Irradiation

“…Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution has attracted much attention and is considered as a promising method to solve environmental problems and the energy crisis. The photocatalytic production of H 2 from water has been regarded as having an acceptable probability approach to clean hydrogen energy, but the critical issue is how to progress the photocatalysts that can productively absorb solar light to conduct a hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in this developing region [5,6]. In recent decades, a number of reports have attempted to develop semiconductor photocatalysts that can perform the removal of organic pollutants or a hydrogen evolution in the environment through light excitation.…”

Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production of ZnIn2S4 by Using Surface-Engineered Ti3C2Tx MXene as a Cocatalyst

“…Hydrogen is regarded as an ideal energy with the advantages of a high energy capacity and zero pollutants. Among the various H 2 production strategies, solar-light-driven photocatalysis for H 2 production from water splitting is a promising route to alleviating the energy crisis [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Developing highly efficient photocatalysts is the key to realizing the industrialization of photocatalytic H 2 production.…”

TiO2 NPs-immobilized silica granules: New insight for nano catalyst fixation for hydrogen generation and sustained wastewater treatment

“…As a result, water molecules are broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. This process is considered green because it does not generate greenhouse gases or other pollutants [ 2 , 3 ].…”