BiVO4 nanowires decorated with CdS nanoparticles as Z-scheme photocatalyst with enhanced H2 generation

- A novel Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst composed of two visible light responding semiconductors was fabricated.
- The CdS/BiVO4 NWs photocatalyst exhibits broader light absorption region.
- The CdS/BiVO4 NWs photocatalyst shows more than two times increase in photocatalytic H2 generation rate compared to bare CdS.

Highly efficient photocatalysts require to be achieved via an efficient charge separation action and responded under visible light. Here, we demonstrate a novel Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst composed of two visible light responding semiconductors without use of electron mediator. The as-prepared CdS nanoparticles decorated BiVO4 nanowires (CdS/BiVO4 NWs) exhibit broader light absorption region and Z-scheme charge separation mechanism for photocatalytic H2 generation under visible light. As a results, the optimizing CdS/BiVO4 NWs in 1:2 wt ratio shows more than two times increase in photocatalytic H2 generation rate compared to bare CdS. Moreover, the Z-scheme CdS/BiVO4 NWs lead to main oxidation sites at BiVO4 NWs that successfully avoid photo-corrosion of CdS during photocatalysis.

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