Plasmonic Zn0.5Cd0.5S/NaxMoO3 composites with excellent full-spectrum driven photocatalytic hydrogen activity

[Display omitted] •Plasmonic NaxMoO3 with oxygen vacancies was coupled with Zn0.5Cd0.5S to construct Z-scheme heterostructure.•Zn0.5Cd0.5S /NaxMoO3 photocatalysts perform UV–vis-NIR-driven extraordinary photocatalytic hydrogen activity.•Zn0.5Cd0.5S /NaxMoO3 performs superior Vis-NIR absorption and the high charge separation efficiency due to the strong LSPR effect and Z-scheme heterojunction.•The NIR-driven photocatalytic performance is ascribed to the injection of hot electrons. Developing the full-spectrum driven photocatalysts is considered as a potential strategy to realize the high-efficient photocatalytic hydrogen. Herein, plasmonic NaxMoO3 with oxygen vacancies was coupled with Zn0.5Cd0.5S to construct Z-scheme heterostructure. The Zn0.5Cd0.5S /NaxMoO3 photocatalysts perform UV–vis-NIR-driven extraordinary photocatalytic hydrogen activity: the H2 rates of Zn0.5Cd0.5S/NaxMoO3-5 under the irradiation of full-spectrum, > 420 nm, > 520 nm and > 780 nm are 6033, 2846, 92, 54 μmolg-1h−1, respectively, showing an energy distribution that eligible the distribution of solar energy. Benefiting from the synergistic impact of the interfacial Z-type heterojunction and the tunable plasmonic resonance of NaxMoO3, the composites shows excellent full-spectrum absorption and the high charge separation efficiency. This work endows Zn0.5Cd0.5S the NIR-driven photocatalytic H2 ability by utilizing the LSPR effect of NaxMoO3, which provides a new horizon to realize the high-efficient photocatalytic performance and the sufficient usage of solar light.