Molybdate modified ZnCdS to construct fast carrier transfer channels for efficient hydrogen evolution

•The morphology of the catalyst increases the contact area and active sites.•NiMoO4 contains Ni Mo element, which suppresses the photo corrosion of ZnCdS.•Constructed an S-scheme heterojunction, which enhances the ability of the catalyst.•The mechanism of S-scheme heterojunction was explained by in situ characterization.•The work function was calculated using DFT, and the reaction mechanism was verified. In the field of photocatalysis, when it comes to performance, ZnCdS can be said to be second to none, as its suitable bandgap structure and electron rich properties are highly sought after by most researchers. However, how to solve the severe photo corrosion and recombination of photo generated carriers has become a huge challenge that needs to be addressed. Constructing heterojunctions is an effective method to solve this problem. In this work, ZnCdS and NiMoO4 S-scheme heterojunctions were first constructed. This catalyst tightly combines two elements together, and the synergistic effect of Ni and Mo elements in NiMoO4 effectively suppresses the photo corrosion of ZnCdS and greatly improves its performance. The electron rich nature of ZnCdS causes its own electrons to transfer to NiMoO4, which in turn promotes the hydrogen evolution reaction of NiMoO4. In fact, the built-in electric field between catalyst interfaces provides power for electron transfer. It is worth noting that studying in situ XPS and density functional theory calculations has provided a deeper understanding of charge dynamics. This work provides ideas for improving charge transfer and designing high-performance catalysts to address energy issues.