Synthesis of novel MoS2/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts with enhanced hydrogen evolution activity

•MoS2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst is obtained by simple impregnation and heating methods.•and determined by XRD, TEM, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra.•the photocatalysts had strong absorption in the visible light region.•the highest H2 evolution rate was achieved on the 0.5wt% samples.

Novel MoS2/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts were synthesized via a simple impregnation and heating methods. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra. The photocatalytic activities of MoS2/g-C3N4 samples were evaluated based on the hydrogen evolution experiments under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm). The UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra revealed that the MoS2/g-C3N4 photocatalysts had strong absorption in the visible light region. The photocatalytic results indicated that the highest H2 evolution rate of 23.10 μmol·h− 1 was achieved on the 0.5 wt.% MoS2–g-C3N4 sample, which was enhanced by 11.3 times compared to pure g-C3N4. This study may provide an approach to the development of novel heterojunction photocatalysts for hydrogen production under visible light irradiation.