5
74
J. Wang et al. / Journal of Alloys and Compounds 578 (2013) 571–576
formed nanocrystals with different morphologies that depend on
the Zn content of the solid solutions. The nanocrystals made of
microflowers have a low Zn content (x = 0.2 or 0.4), but the micro-
spheres would be found in the high Zn content (x = 0.2 or 0.4) sam-
a
ples. Similar Cd
x
Zn1ꢀxS nanocrystls have been prepared by using
S as sulfur source in a mixed solution of DETA and water
23]. The possible reason for the morphology change may be the
(
[
4 2
NH )
2
+
2+
2+
2ꢀ
difference of the M ion (M = Zn or Cd ) reactivity with S
,
which follows the order, Cd2 > Zn . More the detailed is needed
+
2+
further investigation. The morphologies of Cd Zn1ꢀxS solid solution
x
was also characterized by TEM (shown in Fig. S1), the similar mor-
phology change rule can be associated to the SEM results.
In order to further analyze the basic assembled units, the Cd0.2-
Zn0.8S sample was taken as an example to do HRTEM and selected-
area electron diffraction (SAED) characterization. Fig. S2a shows
x
the HRTEM images of the synthesized Cd Zn1ꢀxS samples, the clear
lattice fringe indicates the products have high crystallization and
single crystal properties. And the clear-cut 0.33 nm lattice spacing
can be corresponding to the wurtzite (002) plane. Some structural
deformations are also found in the HRTEM which can be duo to the
elemental default or asymmetric doping. The corresponding se-
lected-area electron diffraction (SAED, Fig. S2b) pattern indicates
that the typical Cd0.2Zn0.8S sample has a hexagonal single-crystal
structure. These results show that Cd0.2Zn0.8S preferentially grew
along the h001i direction.
5
000
b
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
x
3.3. Photocatalytic performance of the Cd Zn1ꢀxS solid solution
The photocatalytic performance of the Cd
in H production was investigated in a system consisting of 0.1 M
x
Na S/aqueous Na SO solution. Fig. 5a shows that all the Cd Zn1ꢀxS
x
Zn1ꢀxS solid solution
2
2
2
3
0
.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
photocatalysts exhibit high activities than that of ZnS and CdS,
The Cd content in Cd Zn1-xS solid slution (wt %)
indicating that the formation and composition of the solid solution
x
is significant for H
sphere exhibits the best activity among the Cd
tions, with a H
production rate of ꢂ1.8 mmol g
almost 30 times higher than that of CdS. Moreover, the rate of H
production for Cd Zn1ꢀxS decreases as the Cd concentration in
2
production. In particular, the Cd0.2Zn0.8S micro-
Fig. 5. (a) Hydrogen evolution of different Cd
in Na SO and Na
with a cutoff filter (k P 420 nm)) (b) Hydrogen evolution of different Cd
loading with 1 wt.% Pt as co-catalyst in Na SO and Na S aqueous solutions.
x
Zn1ꢀxS solid solution photocatalysts
2
S aqueous solutions (Catalyst: 0.1 g, light source: 300 W Xe lamp
x
Zn1ꢀxS solid solu-
ꢀ
1
ꢀ1
2
3
2
h , which is
x
Zn1ꢀxS
2
2
3
2
x
the solid solution increases, suggesting the composition for solid
solution has an important impact on the photocatalytic activities.
In the same test conditions, the photocayalytic H
2
-production
When photons with sufficient energy strike the semiconductor
photocatalyst, they create pairs of electrons and holes, then the
electron–hole pairs would be separated, transferred into the sur-
face of catalyst and reacted with water, so the surface properties
such as BET surface areas and surface defects have an great effect
on the photocatalytic activities. In general, the bigger the specific
area of semiconductor, the more of active sits with reactants,
which is helpful for photocatalytic reaction. Conversely, it is unfa-
vorable to the photocatalytic reaction. At the same time, the sur-
face defects also have important influence on the catalytic
activity. The suitable surface defects have a help to capture photo-
generated electronic or hole, leading more electron or hole to mi-
grate to the surface of the catalyst for photocatalytic reaction.
activity of hierarchical Cd Zn1ꢀxS complex architectures is better
x
than the reported nanoparticles [24–27].
During the photocatalytic water splitting process, co-catalysts
like noble metals are often needed to promote the separation of
photogenerated carriers and provide low activation potentials for
H
2
evolution, thus serving as active sites for H
2
production. For
the CdS and Cd Zn1ꢀxS solid solution photocatalyst, noble metal
x
such as Pt, Pd and Rh were studied as co-catalysts to enhance the
photocatalytic activity, and Pt has showed the most favorable ef-
fect on the improvement of CdS photocatalytic activity. When Pt
is loaded into the Cd
activity further increases. The rate of H
Pt/Cd0.2Zn0.8S photocatalyst reaches as high as ꢂ5 mmol g
Fig. 5b), which is approximately 1.8 times higher than that over
the Cd0.2Zn0.8S solid solution catalyst alone.
The Cd Zn1ꢀxS solid solution with a hexagonal wurtzite phase
often has the best photocatalytic activity when the Zn content
x
Zn1ꢀxS photocatalysts, the photocatalytic
2
evolution over the
ꢀ1
ꢀ1
h
x
The synthetic hierarchical assemblies of Cd Zn1ꢀxS complex
(
architectures have different morphology. In particular, the mor-
phology changes from microflowers agglomerates to microspheres
with the Cd content in the solid solution, which may generate
x
x
changes of surface properties. Firstly, the BET of Cd Zn1ꢀxS solid
(
1ꢀx) is approximately 0.6–0.7, which may be attributed to the
solution has been changed. As shown in Table 2, the ZnS has a rel-
2
suitable band gap and negative shift of the conduction band. In
the current results, the Cd0.4Zn0.6S solid solution gives a very high
atively high BET data (ꢂ40m /g), and the CdS exhibits low surface
2
area, only 7 m /g. For the different constituent solid solution, the
ꢀ1
ꢀ1
rate of H
of the aforementioned reason. However, the Cd0.2Zn0.8S solid solu-
tion exhibits the best photoactivity for H production. Therefore,
aside from the band-gap structure for the hierarchical Cd
solid solution, other influence factors should be considered.
2
production (ꢂ0.8 mmol g
h
), most probably because
BET data will increase with the Cd content decrease, and the Cd0.2-
2
Zn0.8S microsphere especially has a higher BET results (ꢂ42 m /g).
2
Apparently, the higher BET is in favor of providing more reaction
site, causing the enhancement of photocatalytic activity. In addi-
x
Zn1ꢀxS
x
tion, the change of Cd Zn1ꢀxS morphologies is also possible for