Influence mechanism of ZnCdS solid solution composition regulation on its energy band and photocatalytic hydrogen performance

The band structure and photocatalytic hydrogen production performance of the obtained solid solution catalyst ZnxCd1-xS can be cleverly regulated by a facile fabrication strategy. The hydrogen evolution rate of Zn0.5Cd0.5S is 41,211 μmol·h−1·g−1. [Display omitted] •A solid solution photocatalysts ZnxCd1-xS was designed and synthesized using a facile fabrication strategy.•The band structure of the obtained ZnxCd1-xS can be cleverly controlled by controlling the ratio of Zn and Cd.•The hydrogen evolution rate of Zn0.5Cd0.5S is 41211 μmol·h−1·g−1. The regulation of the band structure is crucial for the improvement of the photocatalytic performance, but the relationship between the composition of solid solution catalyst and their band structure is still unclear. Herein, the solid solution catalysts ZnxCd1-xS (1 > x > 0) were designed and synthesized using a handy solid-phase thermal decomposition strategy. It is interesting that the band structure and photocatalytic hydrogen production (PHP) performance of the obtained solid solution catalyst can be cleverly regulated by controlling the atomic ratio of the solid solution. Among the obtained series of ZnxCd1-xS solid solution catalysts, the optimal solid solution catalysts Zn0.5Cd0.5S exhibits the best PHP activity and favorable cycle stability: the corresponding PHP rate is 41211.2 μmol·h−1·g−1 and the QE value is 7.7 % at 400 nm. The outstanding photocatalytic hydrogen production performance is the result of significantly narrowing the band gap of sulfide solid solution. Additionally, the effective separation and transfer rate of photogenerated carrier has also been improved effectively. The construction of bimetallic sulfide solid solution photocatalyst via an ingenious solid-state thermal decomposition strategy in this work provided a new idea for improving the photocatalytic performance of bimetallic catalysts.