Fabrication of CdS/Nb₂O₅ S-scheme heterojunction with increased photocatalytic H₂ generation performance under simulated sunlight irradiation

Rational design and development of S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts have gained extensive interest in terms of H₂ generation. Herein, an S-scheme CdS/Nb₂O₅ heterojunction photocatalyst with high surface area and enhanced separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs is constructed for excellent H₂ generation under simulated sunlight irradiation. The optimized CdS/Nb₂O₅ photocatalytic shows excellent and stable H₂ generation rate of 7383.5 μmolh⁻¹g⁻¹ using glycerol as a sacrificial agent, which is 108.3 and 70 times higher than that of pure Nb₂O₅ and pure CdS, respectively. The increased performance attributes to the formation of an S-scheme charge migration channel between CdS and Nb₂O₅, which not only increases electron-hole separation but also retains their high redox capacity. In addition, the formed heterojunction provides high surface area and plentiful active sites, resulting in accelerated rate of redox reactions. This research offers a potential approach for constructing excellent S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for outstanding and stable H₂ generation reactions from water splitting.