title: Hybridization of Cd0.2Zn0.8S with g-C3N4 nanosheets: a visible-light-driven photocatalyst for H2 evolution from water and degradation of organic pollutants.
abstract: Novel visible-light-driven Cd0.2Zn0.8S/g-C3N4 inorganic-organic composite photocatalysts were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. The prepared Cd0.2Zn0.8S/g-C3N4 composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical (PEC) experiments. Under visible-light irradiation, Cd0.2Zn0.8S/g-C3N4 photocatalysts displayed a higher photocatalytic activity than pure g-C3N4 and Cd0.2Zn0.8S for hydrogen evolution and degradation of pollutants, and the optimal g-C3N4 content was 20 wt%. The optimal composite showed a hydrogen evolution rate of 208.0 μmol h(-1). The enhancement of the photocatalytic activity should be attributed to the well-matched band structure and intimate contact interfaces between Cd0.2Zn0.8S and g-C3N4, which lead to the effective transfer and separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. Furthermore, the Cd0.2Zn0.8S/g-C3N4 photocatalysts showed excellent stability during photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and degradation of pollutants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai 200444, P R China. liuhong@shu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhitong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Zhengzheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu