Self-assembly of a mesoporous ZnS/mediating interface/CdS heterostructure with enhanced visible-light hydrogen-production activity and excellent stability

We designed and successfully fabricated a ZnS/CdS 3D mesoporous heterostructure with a mediating Zn(1–x)Cd(x)S interface that serves as a charge carrier transport channel for the first time. The H(2)-production rate and the stability of the heterostructure involving two sulfides were dramatically and simultaneously improved by the careful modification of the interface state via a simple post-annealing method. The sample prepared with the optimal parameters exhibited an excellent H(2)-production rate of 106.5 mmol h(–1) g(–1) under visible light, which was 152 and 966 times higher than CdS prepared using ethylenediamine and deionized water as the solvent, respectively. This excellent H(2)-production rate corresponded to the highest value among the CdS-based photocatalysts. Moreover, this heterostructure showed excellent photocatalytic stability over 60 h.