Visible light response photocatalytic water splitting over CdS-pillared zirconium–titanium phosphate (ZTP)

With an attempt to extend the light absorption towards the visible range and inhibit the rapid recombination of excited electrons/holes, a new type photocatalysts, cadmium sulfide intercalated zirconium–titanium phosphate (CdS–ZTP) was synthesized. The photocatalysts were characterized by small angle X-ray diffraction studies (SAXS), N2 adsorption–desorption studies, diffused reflectance UV–vis (DRUV–vis) spectroscopic analysis, photoluminescence studies (PL), scanning electron microscopic/energy dispersive spectroscopic (SEM/EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) studies etc. The samples exhibit a unique property of optical absorption in UV and visible regions with a wavelength, λ ≤ 450 nm followed by a clear long tail up to 700 nm. The pillared materials showed excellent activity for UV–visible light driven hydrogen production from photocatalytic splitting of water without using any co-catalyst. The photocatalytic activity of this cadmium sulfide pillared catalyst, as well as that of neat cadmium sulfide powder, was monitored for the visible light-induced evolution of hydrogen from water in the presence of hole scavenger, sulfide (S2−).