Boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over CdS/MoS2 on the graphene/montmorillonite composites

CdS/MoS2 heteronanostructure has been considered to be one of the most promising material systems for photocatalytic H2 evolution. However, its photocatalytic performance is severely restricted by the agglomeration of nanostructure and inferior electron transport. Herein, reduced graphene oxide coated montmorillonite (rGO/Mt) was constructed as a hydrophilic conductive catalyst carrier via reducing graphene oxide on montmorillonite. The heterostructures of CdS and MoS2 were assembled on rGO/Mt by hydrothermal process. The photocatalytic H2 evolution property of composites was examined under visible light, and the composites exhibit an efficient H2 evolution rate (1760 μmol h−1 with 100 mg of catalysts) owing to the synergistic effect of the carrier material. Hydrophilic montmorillonite inhibits agglomeration of nanostructures and enhances their dispersibility in the water, and meanwhile, conductive graphene facilitates electronic transmission. The design of a multicomponent carrier provides a novel path to enhance photocatalytic activity. The hydrophilic conductive matrix of RGO/Mt. enhances synergistically the the photocatalytic performance of CdS/MoS2 for hydrogen production. [Display omitted] •Graphene coated montmorillonite is constructed as hydrophilic conductive carrier.•The CdS/MoS2 heterostructures are assembled on rGO/Mt. by hydrothermal method.•The excellent photocatalytic performance owns to the synergistic effect of carrier.•Hydrophilic montmorillonite inhibits agglomeration of nanostructures.•Conductive graphene facilitates electronic transmission in composite catalyst.