Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical performances of Mo, Ni and Cu decorated metal chalcogenides

Abstract

In this study, the syntheses of RGO-Cd(1-x)ZnxS photocatalysts has been accomplished by the solvothermal and thermal sulphurization methods in one spot in order to achieve well and homogeneous distribution of Cd(1-x)ZnxS particles on RGO sheets. Moreover, RGO-Cd(1-x)ZnxS photocatalysts were modified with doping and loading of Mo, Ni, and Cu to tailor the band structure of the composites. The hydrogen production performances of these photocatalysts were compared for the first time under solar light irradiation in a PC and PEC systems. The PC activity tests showed that the photocatalysts prepared with solvothermal method exhibited higher activity than those synthesized with thermal sulphurization. In addition, PC performances of the photocatalysts loaded by photodeposition technique were found to be higher than the ones prepared with doping approach. On the other hand, the photocatalysts synthesized with the sulphurization method displayed higher PEC performance than those prepared solvothermally. This study explains the fundamental effects of the photocatalyst preparation approaches on PC and PEC hydrogen productions. The results offered a new perspective for the effect of loading and doping of RGO-Cd(1-x)ZnxS photocatalysts on the hydrogen production efficiency.