Preparation of CeO₂/Cd_xZn_1−xS photocatalyst and its high-performance photocatalytic hydrogen production

Cd_xZn_1−xS (CZS-X) solid solution and CeO₂/Cd_xZn_1−xS (y%CCZS-X) heterojunction were prepared by solvothermal method, and the crystal shape, morphology, structure and elemental composition were characterized by XRD, SEM and XPS. The hydrogen production properties of CZS-X solid solution and y%CCZS-X heterojunction were studied under visible light irradiation. The hydrogen production rate of CZS-0.3 heterojunction was 3.86 mmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹, which was 4.85 and 11.03 times that of CdS and ZnS, respectively. 10%CCZS-0.3 heterojunction had the best photocatalytic performance, and the hydrogen production rate was 7.89 mmol·g⁻¹·h⁻¹, which was 40.25 and 2.04 times of that of CeO₂ and CZS-0.3 solid solutions, respectively. Under light, the electrons of CeO₂ migrate to CZS-X, making the part of the heterojunction interface near CeO₂ positively charged, while the part of the heterojunction interface near CZS-X negatively charged, forming an internal electric field, which enhanced the carrier separation and migration performance.