Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over Pt/Cd0.5Zn0.5S from saltwater using glucose as electron donor: An investigation of the influence of electrolyte NaCl

Surface property of Cd0.5Zn0.5S in basic aqueous solution was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS). The surface S species at Cd0.5Zn0.5S under basic condition is substituted by O species. The surface adsorption performance of glucose and NaCl was characterized by adsorption experiment and electrophoretic analysis. Glucose is adsorbed on Cd0.5Zn0.5S via two modes. Na+ can be also adsorbed on Cd0.5Zn0.5S. The effect of electrolyte NaCl on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over Pt/Cd0.5Zn0.5S using glucose as an electron donor has been investigated under visible light irradiation. NaCl can promote markedly the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, which is very important to practical application. The photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution from 3.0 mol L−1 NaCl saltwater increases by 77% compared to that from pure water. A possible mechanism was discussed.