Enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2-production activity of CdS-loaded TiO2 microspheres with exposed (001) facets

•CdS-loaded TiO2 microsphere with highly exposed (001) facet is synthesized.•CdS/TiO2 microsphere exhibits excellent photocatalytic H2-production efficiency.•(001) faceted surface is beneficial for the interfacial transfer of electron.

CdS-loaded TiO2 microspheres with highly exposed (001) facets were prepared by hydrothermal treatment of a TiF4–HCl–H2O mixed solution followed by a chemical bath deposition of CdS onto TiO2 microspheres. The crystal structure, surficial micro-structure and photo-absorption property of the samples were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, etc. The as-prepared samples exhibited superior visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2-production activity from lactic acid aqueous solution in comparison with CdS-sensitized TiO2 nanoparticles, whose surface was dominated by (101) facets. Photoelectrochemical measurement confirmed that (001) facet is beneficial for the transfer of photo-generated electron from CdS to TiO2 microsphere, which led to the unexpected high photocatalytic activity of CdS-loaded TiO2 microspheres.