Sonochemical synthesis of Cd1−xZnxS solid solutions for application in photocatalytic reforming of glycerol to produce hydrogen

• Cd1−xZnxS solid solutions were successfully prepared by a sonochemical method.
• The solid solutions are active in photocatalytic reforming of glycerol.
• The solid solution Cd0.6Zn0.4S contaminated with γ-Zn(OH)2 was the more active photocatalyst.

A simple sonochemical method for the preparation of Cd1−xZnxS solid solutions was successfully applied. The sonochemical method has shown to be fast, with low energy demand and allowed to obtain nano-sized particles. The obtained materials were characterized by XRD, EDX, SEM and DRS UV/vis. The Pt-loaded photocatalysts were evaluated in photoinduced reforming of glycerol under visible light irradiation (λ > 418 nm). Pure CdS and solid solutions obtained by sonochemical method have shown photocatalytic activity with respect to hydrogen gas production. The maximum hydrogen evolution rate achieved was 239 μmol g−1 h−1, when the solid solution Cd0.6Zn0.4S contaminated with γ-Zn(OH)2 was irradiated with visible light.

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