Issue 3, 2012

Ni2+-doped ZnxCd1−xS photocatalysts from single-source precursors for efficient solar hydrogen production under visible light irradiation

Abstract

Ni2+-doped photocatalysts Ni(y)-ZnxCd1−xS (where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.80, 0% ≤ y ≤ 8%) were prepared by a two-step route, which consisted of a first precipitation of single-source precursors and a subsequent solvothermal treatment of the precursors in ethylenediamine. Structural, morphological and optical properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized by XRD, UV-vis DRS, FESEM, TEM, N2 physisorption, ICP-AES and XPS techniques. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated for hydrogen evolution from the aqueous solution containing sodium sulfide and sodium sulfite under visible light irradiation. All Ni2+-doped samples exhibit enhanced photocatalytic activity compared with the non-doped sample. Sample Ni(4%)-Zn0.4Cd0.6S gives the highest hydrogen evolution rate of 941 μmol h−1 under the optimized reaction conditions without any co-catalysts, with a corresponding quantum efficiency of 22.8% at 420 nm which is much higher compared to those of previously reported Ni2+-doped metal sulfide photocatalysts. It is suggested that good crystallinity, suitable band structure and the accommodation sites introduced by Ni2+ doping for charge carrier separation together contribute to the high activity of such photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution.

Graphical abstract: Ni2+-doped ZnxCd1−xS photocatalysts from single-source precursors for efficient solar hydrogen production under visible light irradiation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
08 Aug 2011
Accepted
28 Nov 2011
First published
21 Dec 2011

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012,2, 581-588

Ni2+-doped ZnxCd1−xS photocatalysts from single-source precursors for efficient solar hydrogen production under visible light irradiation

Y. Wang, J. Wu, J. Zheng, R. Jiang and R. Xu, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, 2, 581 DOI: 10.1039/C2CY00310D

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