Enhanced blue-light photocatalytic H2 production using CdS nanofiber

• Nanostructured CdS are synthesized in ethylenediamine–H2O solutions.
• CdS spheres, rods and fibers showed quantum confinement effect.
• The CdS nanofibers are efficient photocatalysts with blue light irradiation.
• The highest activity of the CdS fibers is attributed to the quantum size effect.

The photocatalytic activity of CdS nanosphere, nanorod or nanofiber was investigated for the hydrogen production from either methanol–water or sulfide/sulfite solution irradiated with blue light. The nanostructured CdS were obtained by the precipitation method at high ethylenediamine content solutions and at moderate temperature conditions. The synthesized CdS nanofiber using CS2 as sulfur source presented the highest photocatalytic activity for the H2 production (954 μmol h− 1 g− 1) in the reaction system with four blue LED lamps. This high photoactivity was attributed to the quantum confinement effect generated by the small particle size of the nanofibers (D = ~ 5 nm and L = 25 nm).

The efficient CdS fibers photocatalyst to produce H2 from methanol–water solution under blue light irradiation.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide