A microwave-assisted thermolysis route to single-step preparation of MoS2/CdS composite photocatalysts for active hydrogen generation

Noble-metal free co-catalysts show great potential for boosting the photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity of a photocatalyst. However, the growth of these co-catalysts is always time and energy intensive due to the multiple operations. Herein we report on facile and rapid growth of a MoS2 co-catalyst on CdS for active hydrogen generation via single-step microwave-assisted thermolysis of a Mo/Cd-thiourea complex. The MoS2/CdS hybrids by optimizing the microwave reaction time show active H2 generation upon visible light exposure. The highest H2 generation rate achieved was 11.4 mmol h−1 g−1 from the hybrid with 3 wt% MoS2 content, which is 2 times higher than that of 0.5 wt% Pt loaded CdS. The present microwave-assisted thermolysis is simple, easy to operate, and time and energy efficient, thereby providing a robust route for the preparation of metal sulfide-based photocatalysts.