CoV-LDH and Zn_xCd_1–xS Solid-Solution Construct 0D/3D S-Scheme Heterojunction for Activated Solar Hydrogen Evolution

The development of low-cost and high-activity catalysts is one of the most important aspects of photocatalytic water splitting. Here, three-dimensional (3D) CoV-LDH and zero-dimensional (0D) ZnxCd1–xS solid solutions were effectively assembled to synthesize an efficient and stable S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst. The hydrogen production of CoV-LDH/ZnxCd1–xS under 5 W simulated sunlight reached 921.9 μmol (18.438 mmol h–1 g–1) in 5 h, which was 30.8 times and 223.5 times higher than those of pure ZnxCd1–xS photocatalyst and pure CoV-LDH photocatalyst, respectively. This is because the introduction of CoV-LDH strengthens the absorption of light, and the 0D/3D interface contact can effectively promote the transfer of photogenerated charges between semiconductors and improve the surface shuttle performance to achieve efficient H2 production. The staggered band structure makes the electron flow between CoV-LDH and ZnxCd1–xS follow a step scheme. The construction of the CoV-LDH/ZnxCd1–xS S-scheme heterojunction retains a high redox potential and extends the life of the electron-generated carriers. This work may afford an approach for constructing high-efficiency S-scheme heterojunctions and modifying photocatalysts in future applications.