Hollow Nanobox‐Shaped Cu_2‐xS@Zn_xCd_1‐xS Heterojunction by Light Multireflection with Z‐Scheme Mechanism for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Abstract Achieving efficient spatial photoinduced charge separation and light utilization for improving the high photocatalytic activity is still a major obstacle. Here, a Cu 2‐x S@Zn x Cd 1‐x S (Cu 2‐x S@ZnCdS) heterojunction is reported featuring a distinctive core–shell hollow nanobox structure. The Cu 2‐x S@Zn x Cd 1‐x S exhibits high photocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the rate of 8175 µmol∙g −1 ∙h −1 under visible light irradiation, outperforming pristine ZnCdS nanoparticles and Cu 2‐x S hollow nanoboxes. The remarkable activity and outstanding stability of Cu 2‐x @ZnCdS are attributed to the development of robust interfacial electric fields, and improved light multireflection absorption efficiency as well as the Z‐scheme mechanism. The electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and in situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements gave the direct evidence of the formation of the Z‐scheme, which maintained the high redox potentials of each ZnCdS and Cu 2‐x S. This study gives the guideline for the design of heterojunction with the Z‐scheme mechanism, leading to the high photocatalytic performance and remarkable stability.