Hollow CdS nanotubes with ZIF-8 as co-catalyst for enhanced photocatalytic activity.

Designing high-efficiency heterojunction photocatalysts for water splitting is an intriguing prospect in energy conversion. Herein, we successfully fabricated a CdS/ZIF-8 heterojunction system through a facile wet-chemically method, in which ZIF-8 nanoparticles were in-situ adhered on hollow CdS nanotubes. Due to the well-matched band structure and intimate interface contact in CdS/ZIF-8 hybrid structure, the interfacial charge separation in the established system was tremendously boosted. As a consequence, the established CdS/ZIF-8 heterojunction exhibited the optimal photocatalytic hydrogen production performance (2.10 mmol·g L), which was 35 times higher than pristine CdS (0.06 mmol·g·L). We believe this strategy will endow new insights for the development of novel photocatalysts.