Synthesis of (AgIn)xCd2(1-x)S2 Photocatalysts for H2 Evolution under Visible Light by Using a Low-temperature Hydrothermal Method

We present a new visible-light driven photocatalyst (AgIn)_xCd_2(1-x)S₂ prepared by low-temperature hydrothermal method. Here, (AgIn)_xCd_2(1-x)S₂ with nanostructure shows photocatalytic activities for H₂ evolution from aqueous solutions containing sacrificial reagents, SO₃ ^2- and S^2- under visible-light irradiation even without any cocatalysts. The morphology and band gap of the photocatalysts are different with x changing from 0.01 to 0.5, and the band gap of (AgIn)_xCd_2(1-x)S₂ can be easily tuned from 2.32-2.08 eV. Importantly, the addition of Ag⁺ and In³⁺ ion to CdS can improve the light sensitization of photocatalyst. (AgIn)_0.05Cd_1.9S₂ with a 2.29 eV band gap has good photocatalytic activity for H₂ evolution under visible light irradiation even without a Pt cocatalyst (274.5 mumol g^-1h^-1 ), The photocatalytic activity (1172.3 mumol g^-1h^-1 ) of the same sample loaded with Pt cocatalyst is much higher than that of Pt-loaded CdS (40.2 mumol g^-1h^-1).