Highly-efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 evolution integrated with microplastic degradation over MXene/ZnxCd1-xS photocatalyst

[Display omitted] •The MXene/ZnxCd1-xS photocatalysts have been successfully fabricated.•The resultant nanocomposites exhibit excellent photocatalytic H2 evolution activity.•The photocatalytic system achieved H2 evolution integrated with PET degradation.•The photocatalytic reduction and oxidation mechanism was discussed. The development of highly-efficient photocatalyst for H2 production integrated with microplastic degradation is significant to meet the demand for clean energy and resolve “white pollution”. Herein, a series of MXene/ZnxCd1-xS photocatalysts were successfully fabricated for H2 evolution integrated with degradation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The resultant photocatalysts exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance, and the best photocatalytic H2 evolution rate can reach 14.17 mmol·g−1·h−1 in alkaline PET alkaline solution. What’s more, the PET was also converted to the useful organic micromolecule, including glycolate, acetate, ethanol, etc. The highly-efficient photocatalytic performance of MXene/ZnxCd1-xS photocatalysts can be attributed to the enhanced separation ability of photocarriers and optimum band structure with enhanced oxidation capacity of valence band. Finally, the photocatalytic mechanism was investigated in detail. Overall, this work supplied a new useful guidance for solving the energy problem and microplastic pollution issues, simultaneously.