One-step synthesis and photocatalytic behavior for H2 production from water of ZnS/MoS2 composite material

[Display omitted] •ZnS/MoS2 composite photocatalysts were synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal process.•Defects in the structure of ZnS were observed by TEM analysis.•H2 yield was increased in the materials containing Mo in comparison with bare ZnS.•Increase of activity was attributed to ZnS/MoS2 synergy and the formation of defects. ZnS/MoS2 composite material was prepared by one-step solvothermal method at different molybdenum concentration. The structural properties of the composite material were analyzed by XRD, UV–vis DRS, TEM and XPS techniques, and the photocatalytic was evaluated for the hydrogen production under UV irradiation. The hydrogen yield reaches 606 μmol h−1 g−1 for the material with 10% of molybdenum, which was 30 and 50% superior than that obtained using MoS2 and ZnS as photocatalyst, respectively. The increase in the photocatalytic activity may be associated to a synergistic effect produced by the interaction between ZnS and MoS2, as well as the formation of defects in the structure of ZnS, due to sulfur vacancies produced during the synthesis, which could be observed in the TEM analysis of the composite material.