Synergistic Effect of Redox Dual PdO(x)/MnO(x) Cocatalysts on the Enhanced H(2) Production Potential of a SnS/α-Fe(2)O(3) Heterojunction via Ethanol Photoreforming

[Image: see text] In the quest for optimal H(2) evolution (HE) through ethanol photoreforming, a dual cocatalyst-modified heterocatalyst strategy is utilized. Tin(II) sulfide (SnS) was hybridized with α-Fe(2)O(3) to form the heterocatalyst FeOSnS with a p–n heterojunction structure as confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV–vis diffusive reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. PdO(x) and PdO(x)/MnO(x) cocatalysts were loaded onto the FeOSnS heterocatalyst through the impregnation method, as verified by high-resolution transform electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and elemental mapping. Photocatalytic ethanol photoreforming resulted in the production of H(2) as the main product with a selectivity of 99% and some trace amounts of CH(4). The FeOSnS2-PdO(x) 2%/MnO(x) 1% photocatalyst achieved the highest HE rate of 1654 μmol/g, attributed to the synergistic redox contribution of the PdO(x) and MnO(x) species.