Charge-transfer-mediated photocatalysis of W18O49@CdS nanotubes to boost photocatalytic hydrogen production

The W18O49@CdS nanotubes exhibit the broad light-absorption, high efficient charge transfer and outstanding stability. [Display omitted] •The W18O49 nanotubes act as a shield for protecting CdS nanoparticles from photocorrosion.•The sample shows a prominent photocatalytic H2 production rate of 11732 μmol h−1 g−1 without any sacrifice agents.•The sample exhibits outstanding stability, which can remain unchanged H2 rate in a 40 h cycle test. Photocatalysts for hydrogen (H2) production is urgently needed. Herein, the Z-scheme CdS@W18O49 nanotubes are described where CdS nanoparticles are wrapped into hollow W18O49 nanotubes via a hydrothermal process. Thanks to the broad absorption from UV to NIR region and the high efficient charge transfer in this direct Z-scheme system, the photocatalyst activity of CdS@W18O49 nanotubes are drastically enhanced. Such CdS@W18O49 nanotubes show a prominent photocatalytic H2 production rate of 11732 μmol h−1 g−1 without any sacrifice agents, which is higher than the most CdS-based photocatalysts. Furthermore, the as-prepared CdS@W18O49 nanotubes exhibit outstanding stability, which can overcome the inherent drawback of photocorrosion and keep their catalytic activity unchanged in a 40 h circular reaction. The time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectra results confirm the lifetime of photo-generated carriers are greatly prolonged through the fabrication of this direct Z-scheme structure. This work may broaden the application potential of some catalysts with inherent drawbacks and provide a valuable guideline for developing highly efficient photocatalysts.