Co_0.2Cd_0.8S/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S S-Scheme Heterojunction Promoting Directed Charge Separation and Boosting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Constructing S-scheme heterojunctions is an effective strategy for enhancing photocatalytic efficiency. In this study, a Co_0.2Cd_0.8S/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S S-scheme heterostructure was successfully prepared via a facile physical mixing method. Compared with pristine Co_0.2Cd_0.8S and Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S, the CM25 (the mass ratio of Co_0.2Cd_0.8S to Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S is 25%) composite exhibited significantly superior performance in photogenerated charge-carrier separation and reduced charge-transfer resistance. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed the existence of an internal electric field oriented from Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S toward Co_0.2Cd_0.8S at the interface, accompanied by a redistribution of interfacial electron density. This strong interfacial coupling not only markedly facilitates the spatial separation of photogenerated carriers but also preserves their robust redox capability. Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution experiments further revealed that over a 5 h reaction period, the hydrogen production of the composite catalyst reached approximately 6.71 and 6.30 times those of pristine Co_0.2Cd_0.8S and Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S, respectively. Overall, this work provides a feasible pathway for the rational design of high-performance Cd-based photocatalysts toward solar-driven hydrogen production.

Keywords

Co_0.2Cd_0.8S / S-Scheme heterojunction / Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S / Electron transfer / Catalytic reaction

References

[1] Zhao X, Cao Y, Lei M, Jin Z, Tsubaki N. Acta Phys. Chim. Sin., 2025, 41: 100152

[2] Ramamurthy P, Singh S, Kapoor D, Parihar P, Samuel J, Prasad R, Kumar A, Singh J. Microb. Cell Fact., 2021, 20: 55

[3] Yin H, Du J, Ma X, Li Y, Jin Z. Adv. Sustainable Syst., 2025, 10: e01465

[4] Wang K, Liu S, Li Y, Wang G, Yang M, Jin Z. Applied Surface Science, 2022, 601: 154174

[5] Zheng C, Jiang G, Li Y, Jin Z. J. Alloys Compd., 2022, 904: 164041

[6] Yao L. Energy Rep., 2022, 8: 9211

[7] Li J. Energy Rep., 2023, 9: 48

[8] Babatunde D E, Anozie A N, Omoleye J A, Oyebode O, Babatunde O M, Agboola O. Energy Rep., 2020, 6: 1061

[9] Gaffney J, Marley N. Atmos. Environ., 2009, 43: 23

[10] Wang L, Zhu F, Liu E, Yang Y, Yu Q, He Y, Peng W, Lam S, Chen X. Adv. Compos. Hybrid Mater., 2024, 7: 100

[11] Guo X, Liu J, Yang X, Jin Z, Tsubaki N. Chem. Res. Chinese Universities, 2025, 41: 893

[12] Zhao X, Zhang L, Liu G, Jin Z, Yang G, Tsubaki N. Inorg. Chem. Front., 2026, 13: 1353

[13] Sekar U, Radhakrishnan J, Biswas K. Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2025, 9: 5399

[14] Zheng M, Wang Y, Xu J, Jin Z. Carbon Lett., 2026, 36: 841

[15] Liu Z, Zhang Y, Wu Y, Yang B, Zhou Z, Jin Z. Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2025, 233: 48

[16] Zhang X, Zhang Z, Sun Y, Ma X, Jin F, Zhang F, Han W, Shen B, Guo S. Rare Met., 2024, 43: 3441

[17] Liu Y, Huang D, Cheng M, Liu Z, Lai C, Zhang C, Zhou C, Xiong W, Qin L, Shao B, Liang Q. Coord. Chem. Rev., 2020, 409: 213220

[18] Hu M, Alharbi J, Zhang H, Qahtani H, Feng C. Chem. Res. Chinese Universities, 2025, 41: 237

[19] Sun Y, Li Y, He J, Chen L, Ji H, Qin Z, Su T. Chin. J. Struct. Chem., 2023, 42: 100145

[20] Zhao Y, Yang P, Li J. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2021, 46: 22422

[21] Xi Y, Feng H, Li Y, Huang Q. Appl. Surf. Sci., 2021, 567: 150465

[22] Wang X, Feng B, Shi L. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2024, 51: 988

[23] Liu Q, Shi L. Chemistry-An Asian Journal, 2025, 20: e00451

[24] Peng H, Du Y, Zheng X, Wen J. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2022, 47: 9925

[25] Wang X, Hu H, Zhang T, Xuan H, Deng C. Mater. Res. Bull., 2025, 184: 113230

[26] He C, Yao H, Zhang S, Jin L, Guo C. J. Environ. Chem. Eng., 2025, 13: 119764

[27] Han Y, Dong X, Liang Z. Catal. Sci. Technol., 2019, 9: 1427

[28] Lai J, Qin Y, Yu L, Zhang C. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process., 2016, 52: 82

[29] Yan J, Shi L, Wang F, Yao L. Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2022, 131: 104195

[30] Xu J, Li Q, Li Z, Liu Z, Shang Y. Appl. Surf. Sci., 2024, 669: 160454

[31] Huang Q, Tao Z, Ye L, Yao H, Li Z. Appl. Catal. B: Environ., 2018, 237: 689

[32] Jiang J, Ye K, Zhang W, Ren H, Chen H, Hu Y, Wang F, Hou J, Diao G, Chen M. J. Mater. Sci., 2022, 57: 21667

[33] Li Z, Zhang J, Lv J, Lu L, Liang C, Dai K. J. Alloys Compd., 2018, 758: 162

[34] Chen L, Chen F, Ying S, Liang R, Yan G, Wang X, Xia Y. Dalton Transactions, 2023, 52: 290

[35] Shi Y, Lei X, Xia L, Wu Q, Yao W. Chem. Eng. J., 2020, 393: 124751

[36] Qi S, Zhang K, Wu S, Guan L. J. Inorg. Organomet. Polym Mater., 2023, 34: 1850

[37] Wei L, Liu Z, Guo Z, Ruan M, Meng Y, Yan W. ACS Appl. Energy Mater., 2021, 4: 7233

[38] Mane S, Pingale P, Karande R, Sharon L. Electrochim. Acta, 2013, 114: 494

[39] Lv H, Wan B, Kong Y, Suo Z, Zhou C, Xing X, Wang G, Liu Y. Sep. Purif. Technol., 2024, 345: 127429

[40] Deng Q, Miao T, Wang Z, Xu Y, Fu X. Chem. Eng. J., 2019, 378: 122139

[41] Ma X, Li D, Su P, Jiang Z, Jin Z. Int. J. Energy Res., 2021, 45: 19453

[42] Xiong Y, Li Y, Wu Y N, Huang Q Z. J. Environ. Chem. Eng., 2025, 14: 120950

[43] Shang Y, Xu J, Ma Y, Li Z, Li Q. New J. Chem., 2023, 47: 16972

[44] Wang X, Li Y, Li T, Jin Z. Adv. Sustainable Syst., 2023, 7: 2200139

[45] Miao X, Yang H, He J, Wang J, Jin Z. Acta Phys. Chim. Sin., 2025, 41: 100051

[46] Du J, Jin F, Li Y, Jiang G, Jin Z. J. Mater. Chem. A, 2025, 13: 4994

[47] Ren B, Luan Q, Ma L, Ding Y, Ma D, Cao X, Guo Y, Guan R, Chen Q. Mater. Chem. Phys., 2022, 285: 126100

[48] Peng K, Yu S, Luo Y, Zhang A, Xie Y, Luo Y, Ling Y, Zhao J. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2024, 682: 132822

[49] Ding L, Lei M, Wang T, Wang J, Jin Z. Carbon Lett., 2024, 34: 2099

[50] Li B, Li T, Ma X, Lei M, Jin Z, Tsubaki N, Fornasiero P. EcoEnergy, 2026, 4: e70045

[51] Huang Q, Wang J, Ye L, Zhang Q, Yao H, Li Z. J. Taiwan Inst. Chem. Eng., 2017, 80: 570

[52] Zhou Z, Wang J, Reheimujiang M, Jin Z. Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2025, 213: 241

[53] Long H, Gao D, Wang P, Wang X, Chen F, Yu H. Appl. Catal. B: Environ., 2024, 340: 123270

[54] Liu Z, Li Y, Jin Z. J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023, 11: 9327

[55] Shenoy S, Jang E, Park T, Gopinath C, Sridharan K. Appl. Surf. Sci., 2019, 483: 696

[56] Xue F, Liu M, Cheng C, Deng J, Shi J. ChemCatChem, 2018, 10: 5441

[57] Zhang R, Jia X, Li Y, Yu X, Xing Y. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2022, 47: 25300

[58] Ge W, Song J, Deng S, Liu K, Yang P. Sep. Purif. Technol., 2024, 328: 125059

[59] Ali A, Ali S, Zulfiqar S, Kang K, Khan T, Khattak S, Khan G, Rahman M, Shaik M. Surf. Interfaces, 2024, 52: 104836

[60] Zhu Y, Jiang X, Lin L, Wang S, Chen C. Chem. Res. Chinese Universities, 2020, 36: 1032

[61] Li M, Li S, Li Y, He P, Xiao Y, Chen J, Ren T. Mater. Lett., 2023, 334: 133757

[62] Tang Y, Xu Z F, Sun Y, Wang C, Guo Y, Hao W, Tan X, Ye J H, Yu T. Energy Environ. Sci., 2024, 17: 7882

[63] Zhou Z, Jin Z. Chin. J. Catal., 2025, 74: 294

[64] Huang J J, Wang S, Yang H, Li T, Jin Z L. Mater. Today Chem., 2026, 55: 103763

[65] Yang L, Gao T, Yuan S, Dong Y, Chen Y, Wang X, Chen C, Tang L, Ohno T. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 2023, 652: 1503

[66] Shu D, Wang H, Wang Y, Li Y, Liu X, Chen X, Peng X, Wang X, Ruterana P, Wang H. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2017, 42: 20888

[67] Wang J, Niu X, Wang R, Zhang K, Shi X, Yang H, Ye J, Wu Y. Appl. Catal. B: Environ., 2025, 362: 124763

[68] Zhang Z, Xiao A, Yan K, Liu Y, Yan Z, Chen J. Catal. Lett., 2017, 147: 1631

[69] Hao Z, Hu M, Kang Z, Wang J, Liu C, Feng Q, Xu L. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy, 2025, 106: 403

[70] Yang M, Li Y, Jin Z. Adv. Sustainable Syst., 2023, 7: 2200344

[71] Wu X, Sayed M, Wang G, Yu W, Zhu B. Adv. Mater., 2025, 38: e11322

[72] Zhou N, Yuan L, Li Q, Jin Z, Xie H, Tang S, Chen C, Li Y. Advanced Powder Materials, 2025, 5: 100368

[73] Wang C, Quan Y, Shi S, Wang G, Jin Z. Chin. J. Catal., 2026, 81: 259

[74] Wang S, Ke Y, Jin F, Li Y, Jin Z. Mater. Today Chem., 2020, 43: 102450

[75] Yu L, Wang L, Li H, Li P, Liu H, Liu M, Zhang J J, Wei W, Li S J. Chin. Chem. Lett., 2025, 37: 112228

[76] Lin W., Wang Y., Liu Y., Jiang W., Yang F., Wang X. B., Xiong W. W., Lin X., Zhou X. S., Li S. J., Chem. Res. Chinese Universities, 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40242-026-6112-2.

[77] Yu G, Zhao W, Wei H, Li S J, Yang F, Wang X, Zhuang C, Zhang J L, Zhan S H. Appl. Catal. B: Environ., 2026, 399: 127100

[78] Li H, Li L, Wang H, Liu B, Chen L, Jin Z. ActaPhys.-Chim. Sinica, 2026, 42: 100350

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Jilin University, The Editorial Department of Chemical Research in Chinese Universities and Springer-Verlag GmbH

Just Accepted

This article has successfully passed peer review and final editorial review, and will soon enter typesetting, proofreading and other publishing processes. The currently displayed version is the accepted final manuscript. The officially published version will be updated with format, DOI and citation information upon launch. We recommend that you pay attention to subsequent journal notifications and preferentially cite the officially published version. Thank you for your support and cooperation.