CdZnS Nanowire Decorated with Graphene for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Harnessing abundant and renewable solar energy for photocatalytic hydrogen production is a highly promising approach to sustainable energy generation. To realize the practical implementation of such systems, the development of photocatalysts that simultaneously exhibit high activity, cost-effectiven...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zemeng Wang, Yunsheng Shen, Qingsheng Liu, Tao Deng, Kangqiang Lu, Zhaoguo Hong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/14/3042
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Summary:Harnessing abundant and renewable solar energy for photocatalytic hydrogen production is a highly promising approach to sustainable energy generation. To realize the practical implementation of such systems, the development of photocatalysts that simultaneously exhibit high activity, cost-effectiveness, and long-term stability is critically important. In this study, a Cd<sub>0.8</sub>Zn<sub>0.2</sub>S nanowire photocatalytic system decorated with graphene (GR) was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The introduction of graphene increased the reaction active area of Cd<sub>0.8</sub>Zn<sub>0.2</sub>S, promoted the separation of photogenerated charge carriers in the semiconductor, and improved the photocatalytic performance of the Cd<sub>0</sub>.<sub>8</sub>Zn<sub>0</sub>.<sub>2</sub>S semiconductor. The results showed that Cd<sub>0.8</sub>Zn<sub>0.2</sub>S loaded with 5% graphene exhibited the best photocatalytic activity, with a hydrogen production rate of 1063.4 µmol·g<sup>−1</sup>·h<sup>−1</sup>. Characterization data revealed that the graphene cocatalyst significantly enhances electron transfer kinetics in Cd<sub>0</sub>.<sub>8</sub>Zn<sub>0</sub>.<sub>2</sub>S, thereby improving the separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. This study demonstrates a rational strategy for designing high-performance, low-cost composite photocatalysts using earth-abundant cocatalysts, advancing sustainable hydrogen production.
ISSN:1420-3049