Open Access

ARTICLE

3D/3D C-MoO₂/Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S composite with an S-scheme electron transfer pathway enables highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

C. M. Fu^a, M. Z. Ge^b, X. Q. Zhang^c, W. Yan^c,*

a School of Mechanical Engineering and Transportation, Changzhou Vocational Institute of Industry Technology, Changzhou, 213164, P. R China
b School of Materials Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou, 213001, P. R China
c School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, P. R. China

* Corresponding Author:

Chalcogenide Letters 2025, 22(8), 665-677. https://doi.org/10.15251/CL.2025.228.665

Received 18 April 2025; Accepted 01 August 2025;

Abstract

Constructing heterojunctions represents a crucial strategy for enhancing semiconductor photocatalysts. In this study, the C-MoO₂/Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S S-scheme heterojunction composite was successfully fabricated through a self-assembly approach. XPS analysis confirmed the spontaneous transfer of intrinsic electrons from Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S to C-MoO₂ in the dark, establishing an internal electric field at the C-MoO2/Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S interface. Under visible light irradiation, the C-MoO₂/Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S composite exhibited significantly enhanced hydrogen evolution activity, achieving a 6.3-fold improvement compared to pristine Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S. PL, TRPL, and electrochemical measurements collectively demonstrated that the incorporation of C-MoO₂ effectively suppressed the recombination of photogenerated electrons in Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S. The outstanding photocatalytic performance and improved charge carrier separation efficiency can be attributed to the S-scheme heterojunction configuration, which facilitates efficient electron transfer from Cd_0.9Zn_0.1S to C-MoO₂. This work provides valuable experimental guidance for designing and constructing S-scheme heterojunction photocatalytic systems for solar hydrogen production.

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Keywords

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