Highly efficient hydrogen generation in water using 1D CdS nanorods integrated with 2D SnS₂ nanosheets under solar light irradiation

The development of low-cost and noble-metal-free catalysts for the photoconversion of water into hydrogen (H₂) is of great interest. Here, 2D tin(IV) sulfide (SnS₂) ultrathin nanosheets as co‐catalysts are coupled with 1D cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanorods for the photosplitting of water into H₂. The design of the catalyst can facilitate the passivation of the physiochemical properties of CdS and enhance H₂ evolution activity. The prepared CdS/SnS₂ composite catalyst increases the H₂ generation activity and exhibits excellent and continuous long-term photostability. The H₂ evolution rate of the optimized CdS/SnS₂ composite is approximately 9-fold that of pristine CdS nanorods. The characterization results of the CdS/SnS₂ composite reveal that the loading of SnS₂ can enhance the synergistic effects of the photocatalyst due to the effective separation, large number of exposed catalytic sites, and highly dispersed nature of the layered SnS₂. Several characterization outcomes of CdS/SnS₂ are examined in detail (e.g., structural and surface elemental results of transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy). Further, the optoelectrical properties and charge-carrier excitations are investigated via ultraviolet diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemical analysis. The proposed CdS/SnS₂ composite is a promising low-cost, noble-metal-free, and high-efficiency catalyst for the photocatalytic water-reduction reaction.