CdS/CuCo2S4 dots-on-rods boosting charge separation and hydrogen evolution

Herein, we report a new class of CdS/CuCo₂S₄ dots-on-rods nanostructures that exhibit efficient visible-light-induced H₂ evolution from water. The material CuCo₂S₄ nanodots over CdS nanorods are fabricated through controlled loading in a facile hydrothermal process and formed a heterojunction, maximizing the energy conversion, that shows advanced performance in photochemical H₂ evolution (rate: 33.32 mmol g^?1h^?1 and AQY: 13.2% at λ = 420 ± 15 nm) from water. The experimental and theoretical results on physical and chemical properties revealed that the photocatalytic system is positively correlated with the H₂ production rate and suggest that CuCo₂S₄ nanodots in CdS nanorods plays a critical role in relative efficiency of the H₂ generation. The surprisingly high activity was attributed to enhanced charge carriers’ separation and transfer efficiency, confirmed by the kinetic measurements (TAS) and further reinforced from the Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) analysis and theoretical understanding.