In situ thermal-assisted loading of monodispersed Pt nanoclusters on CdS nanoflowers for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

[Display omitted] •Monodispersed Pt nanoclusters have been loaded on the CdS nanoflowers by an in situ thermal-assisted method.•The as-prepared Pt-CdS composites possess a high proportion of metallic Pt0.•The co-existence of Pt2+ in Pt nanoclusters help to suppress the undesirable hydrogen back-oxidation.•The Pt-CdS composites show a superior photocatalytic hydrogen production rate. Noble metal Pt has widely been used as a highly effective co-catalyst for the photocatalytic H2 generation. However, the undesirable hydrogen oxidation reaction can also be simultaneously catalyzed by metal Pt. Herein, in situ thermal-assisted loading of monodispersed Pt nanoclusters (Pt NCs) on the CdS nanoflowers have been achieved by a hydrothermal method following with a high-temperature thermal treatment under N2 atmosphere, leading to an enhanced interaction between CdS and Pt, as well as an increased proportion of Pt0 in Pt NCs. Notably, the co-existence of a small amount of Pt2+ in Pt NCs help to suppress the unfavorable hydrogen back-oxidation effectively. The resulting Pt-CdS composite shows an extended visible-light response and a highly efficient photo-generated charges separation. As a result, the as-prepared Pt-CdS composite not only possesses a superior photocatalytic hydrogen production rate, but also greatly reduces the usage of noble metal Pt, which holds a potential promise in practical utilizing of solar energy for the fuel generation.