Improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by facet engineering of core-shell structural CdS@ZnO

Abstract The synthesis of photocatalysts with controlled facets has become an important approach to enhance the H2 evolution activity. However, the relationship between different exposed facets of heterojunctions and photocatalytic performance still needs to be further investigated. In this study, three types of CdS@ZnO core-shell architectures with tunable heteroinnerfaces were fabricated. Hexagonal wurtzite ZnO samples with different percentages of exposed (001) facet showed up as rod-like, short rod-like and disk-like morphologies, respectively, subsequently, self-assembled flower-like CdS coated on the whole facet of ZnO, constructing a core-shell nanostructure with the corresponding tunable heterointerfaces. Under visible-light irradiation, it was discovered that the performance of hydrogen evolution is proportional to the ratio of (001) facet of ZnO in CdS@ZnO core-shell structures. Further photoelectric tests indicated that the (001) facet of ZnO by CdS modification can form a more perfect combination than that of (100) facet of ZnO, which exhibits higher electron conduction and separation performance.