ZnCdS combined with layered nanoflower MoWS2 ohmic junction facilitate photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract

To address the key scientific problem of insufficient charge separation efficiency in the photocatalytic systems, the solution in this study is to optimise the electric field within the interface by constructing metal-semiconductor ohmic heterojunctions. The MoWS₂/ZnCdS (ZCMWS) composite catalysts with layered nanoflowers of MoWS₂ modified nanoparticles of ZnCdS were successfully prepared by solvent-thermal coupled mechanical stirring method. The material characterization combined with theoretical calculations confirmed the existence of typical ohmic contact properties at this heterogeneous interface, enabling low-resistance directional transport of photogenerated charge carriers. Under visible light irradiation, the optimized ZCMWS-15 catalyst demonstrated a visible-light-driven H₂ evolution rate of 11.35 mmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹, representing a 4-fold enhancement over pristine ZnCdS. Notably, the catalyst maintained 96.38 % initial activity after four cycles, with enhanced stability attributed to robust interfacial electronic coupling that effectively mitigates photocorrosion. This work establishes a novel paradigm for constructing high-performance photocatalytic architectures and stable photocatalytic systems through the strategy of regulating the electrical properties of the interface.