Photocatalysis: ZnO–CdS@Cd Heterostructure for Effective Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation (Adv. Energy Mater. 1/2012)

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water is an attractive way to convert solar energy into chemical energy. Heterostructured photocatalysts not only increase visible light absorption but also promote the separation of photoexcited charge carriers so that high photocatalytic efficiency might be obtained. G. Q. Lu, H.-M. Cheng, and co-workers report the synergistic effects of a Z-scheme, highly electron conducting shell@core ZnO/CdS@Cd heterostructure on page 42. This heterostructure is prepared via simple replacement and subsequent sulfurization reactions with Zn particle precursors. Under simulated solar irradiation, the heterostructure with loaded Pt cocatalyst shows a high, stable hydrogen evolution rate of 1.92 mmol h−1 per 100 mg of the photocatalyst.