LAUSR

Abstract The rational design of durable and nonprecious nanocomposite photocatalysts with efficient charge separation and abundant active sites is still a grand challenge for photocatalytic hydrogen production from water reduction. Herein, a novel ternary nanocomposite, MoO2 decorated Mn0.5Cd0.5S/Cu2O p-n heterojunction has been constructed via a facile two-step route employing the energy band engineering theory. Impressively, the optimized ternary Mn0.5Cd0.5S/Cu2O/MoO2 nanocomposite displays a robust photocatalytic H2-evolution rate of 733.24 μmol h−1 under simulated solar light irradiation, more 4.2 times higher than pure Mn0.5Cd0.5S. The results demonstrated that the p-n heterojunction formed between n-type Mn0.5Cd0.5S and p-type Cu2O could markedly promote the interfacial charge transfer/separation through the internal electric field, whereas the MoO2 cocatalyst with low overpotential could effectively collect photoinduced electrons and dramatically facilitate the H2-evolution kinetics. Moreover, both Cu2O and MoO2 could improve the light-harvesting ability of pristine Mn0.5Cd0.5S, further contributing to the boosted hydrogen generation activity.