Enhancement of photocatalytic H2 evolution on hexagonal CdS by a simple calcination method under visible light irradiation

An easy-handling calcination method has been used to eliminate the trap energy levels of hexagonal cadmium sulfide (CdS). The treated CdS exhibited extremely high photocatalytic activity for H2 production under visible light irradiation. The rate of photocatalytic H2 evolution has been dramatically enhanced by 55.8 times to 118 μmol h−1 and further improved by 6.3 times to 749 μmol h−1 after loading with 0.2 wt% Pt co-catalyst.

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► A simple calcination treatment eliminated the trap energy levels of hexagonal CdS.
► The rate of photocatalytic H2 evolution was dramatically enhanced by 55.8 times.
► Further improved by 6.3 times to 749 μmol h−1 with 0.2 wt% Pt co-catalyst.