Synthesis and photoactivity of CdS photocatalysts modified by polypyrrole

A series of polypyrrole (PPy)/CdS photocatalysts were synthesized by ‘in-situ’ chemical oxidative polymerization with different dopants. The as-prepared photocatalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra (PL). Under visible light, the as-prepared PPy/CdS photocatalysts were used to photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen evolution for the first time without the presence noble metals. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of as-prepared PPy/CdS photocatalysts with Na2S and Na2SO3 as sacrificial reagents was better than that of CdS. It suggested that the activity of H2 evolution was greatly improved when CdS photocatalysts were modified by PPy. ► In this study we modified CdS photocatalysts with polypyrrole. ► We found that PPy/CdS was efficient for photocatalytic hydrogen production. ► We concluded that polypyrrole was ideal to be used to modify photocatalysts.