Hierarchical CdS/m-TiO2/G ternary photocatalyst for highly active visible light-induced hydrogen production from water splitting with high stability

Hierarchical semiconductors are the most important photocatalysts, especially for visible light-induced hydrogen production from water splitting. We demonstrate herein a hierarchical electrostatic assembly approach to hierarchical CdS/m-TiO2/G ternary photocatalyst, which exhibits high photoactivity and excellent photostability (more than twice the activity of pure CdS while 82% of initial photoactivity remained after 15 recycles during 80 h irradiation). The ternary nanojunction effect of the photocatalyst has been investigated from orbitals hybrid, bonding energy to atom-stress distortion and nano-interface fusion. And a coherent separation mechanism of charge carriers in the ternary system has been proposed at an atomic/nanoscale. This work offers a promising way to inhibit the photocorrosion of CdS and, more importantly, provide new insights for the design of ternary nanostructured photocatalysts with an ideal heterojunction. A new insight into constructing a hierarchical ternary composite photocatalyst for visible light-induced hydrogen production from water splitting with high activity and stability by electric-triple-layer hierarchical assembly approach. The atomic-scaled heterojunctions of CdS/m-TiO2/G are beneficial for efficient transformation of photogenerated carriers from the semiconductor, which thus significantly enhance the CdS photoactivity and inhibited the CdS photocorrosion. [Display omitted] •A hierarchical ternary photocatalyst has been prepared via electric-triple-layer synthesis.•The ternary photocatalyst exhibits an extremely high H2 production rate and long-term photostability.•The ternary nanojunction effect has been investigated from orbitals hybrid, bonding energy to atom-stress distortion and nano-interface fusion.