Highly efficient and stable hydrogen evolution from water with CdS as photosensitizer—A noble-metal-free system

• Facile method: The catalysts were synthesized by a facile solvothermal method without any templates.
• Excellent photocatalytic properties: The 20CBZTO exhibits excellent photocatalytic property without loading noble metals.
• Unique effect: CdS acts as photosensitizer and combines with Ba1−xZnxTiO3 to form heterojunctions.
• Design synthesis: CdS/Ba1−xZnxTiO3 composites was designed and prepared based on their band structures.

CdS/Ba1−xZnxTiO3 heterostructured photocatalysts were developed as a highly efficient and stable system for photocatalytic evolution of hydrogen from water splitting. In the system, CdS not only functions as photosensitizer to absorb visible light, but also participates with Ba1−xZnxTiO3 for the generation of heterojunctions that block the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. The photocatalysts show excellent activity and stability, giving a high H2 production rate of 1473 μmol h−1 g−1 under the irradiation of simulated solar light in a test period of 480 h without loading any noble metal as cocatalyst or any reagents for regeneration. This study demonstrates that the development of CdS nanoparticles as photosensitizer is feasible for the photocatalytic H2 production.

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