Abstract
In terms of solar hydrogen production, semiconductor-based photocatalysts via p-n heterojunctions play a key role in enhancing future hydrogen reservoir. The present work focuses on the successful synthesis and characterization of a novel p-MoS(2)/n-CeO(2) heterojunction photocatalyst for excellent performance toward solar hydrogen production. The synthesis involves a simple in situ hydrothermal process by varying the wt % of MoS(2). The various characterization techniques support the uniform distribution of CeO(2) on the surface of crumpled MoS(2) nanosheets, and the formation of p-n heterojunction is further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy and Mott-Schottky analysis. Throughout the experiment, it is demonstrated that 2 wt % MoS(2) in the MoS(2)/CeO(2) heterojunction photocatalyst exhibits the highest rate of hydrogen evolution with a photocurrent density of 721 μA cm(-2). The enhanced photocatalytic activity is ascribed to the formation of the p-n heterojunction that provides an internal electric field to facilitate the photogenerated charge separation and transfer.