Decorating MoS2 and CoSe2 nanostructures on 1D-CdS nanorods for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate

Abstract Photocatalytic H 2 generation through water splitting using heterogeneous semiconductor nanostructures under the beneath of sunlight is a significant route for alternation of renewable energy. In this perception we fabricated novel hierarchical CdS/MoS 2 -CoSe 2 nanostructures via facile solvothermal route combined with ultra-sonication technique. Optical studies explored that synthesized nanostructures are most reliable host lattices for harvesting of visible light owing to their optimum energy band gap. The MoS 2 -CoSe 2 encumbered on CdS nanorods component provided immense of hydrogen evolution (191.5 mmolg −1  h −1 ) with outstanding stability. It is noteworthy that the observed H 2 evolution rate is much higher in synthesized structures as compared to numerous reported CdS based nanohybrids. The robust H 2 evolution rate and outstanding stability may be owing to fast charge carriers separation and migration between CdS and MoS 2 -CoSe 2, creation of huge surface area and broad light harvesting nature. It is evident from PL, optical, photocurrent and impedance results. From the obtained results we believe that the proposed design strategy is preferable path way to develop new type of photocatalysts with robust H 2 evolution rate.