Photocatalytic enhancement of hydrogen production in water splitting under simulated solar light by band gap engineering and localized surface plasmon resonance of ZnxCd1-xS nanowires decorated by Au nanoparticles

• Published in: Nano energy 2020-01, Vol.67, p.104225, Article 104225
• Main Authors: Chen, Yu-Cheng, Huang, Yu-Sheng, Huang, Han, Su, Po-Jui, Perng, Tsong-Pyng, Chen, Lih-Juann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Au nanoparticles; Band gap engineering; Hydrogen production; Localized surface plasmon resonance; Photocatalytic; ZnxCd1-xS nanowires
• ISSN: 2211-2855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2019.104225

Excellent photocatalytic properties for hydrogen production in water splitting under simulated solar light (with AM1.5G filter) with Au nanoparticles (NPs)/ZnxCd1-xS nanowires (NWs) have been demonstrated. The ZnxCd1-xS NWs photocatalyst shows much higher photocatalytic activity for H2-production than ZnS and CdS NWs with Na2S and Na2SO3 as sacrificial reagents. The high photocatalytic H2-production activity, as high as 57.07 mmol g−1h−1, is attributed to appropriate band gap width and suitable conduction band edge potential of the ZnxCd1-xS NWs. The H2-production efficiency was further significantly enhanced to 96.04 mmol g−1h−1 by decorating ZnxCd1-xS NWs with appropriate size and distribution of Au NPs to induce localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) in visible and near infrared region. The work represents significant advance with a totally green and novel approach of enhancing H2-production efficiency in water splitting under simulated solar light (with AM1.5G filter). [Display omitted] •Band gap engineering of ZnxCd1-xS nanowires to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen production in water splitting.•Enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen production by localized surface plasmon resonance of ZnxCd1-xS nanowires decorated by Au nanoparticles.•The excellent performance points to an effective strategy for the design and development of nanomaterials for photocatalytic applications.