Enhanced hydrogen production through visible light photocatalysis using 2D MoS2/2D CdS composite

This study seeks to enhance the morphological face contact between 2D molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheets containing 1T and 2H phases (inhomogeneous) and 2D cadmium sulfide (CdS) sheets/flakes for enhanced charge transfer. The sulfides are synthesized by hydrothermal and solvothermal methods, respectively.  MoS2/CdS composites (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 wt.% MoS2) are prepared using a physical method. The 2D forms and compositions of both materials are confirmed by FE-SEM imaging, XRD patterns, and XRF semi-quantitative analysis. XRD patterns also reveal the presence of 1T and 2H phases in MoS2 as well as the similar morphological and crystalline structures of the two sulfides. The adsorption of MoS2 onto the CdS surface has minimal intervention of the latter’s lattice structure as indicated by UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. A hydrogen production rate of 1036.1 µmol gcat-1 h-1 is observed using the 15 wt.% MoS2/CdS composite which was 159 times larger than bare CdS, with photocatalytic retention of about 80 % after 15 hours of use.