Efficient and Stable Catalytic Hydrogen Evolution of ZrO2/CdSe-DETA Nanocomposites under Visible Light

Composite photocatalysts are crucial for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this work, ZrO2/CdSe-diethylenetriamine (ZrO2/CdSe-DETA) heterojunction nanocomposites synthesized, and efficiently stably catalyzed evolution under visible light. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) confirm the formation of heterojunctions between ZrO2 (ZO) CdSe-DETA (CS). Ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS), Mott–Schottky, theoretical calculations that mechanism at ZrO2/CdSe-DETA (ZO/CS) is Type-I. Among ZO/CS (ZO/CS-0.4, ZO/CS-0.6, ZO/CS-0.8; in nanocomposites, mass ratio ZO to CS 0.1:0.0765, 0.1:0.1148, 0.1:0.1531, respectively). ZO/CS-0.6 nanocomposite has best activity (4.27 mmol g−1 h−1), which significantly higher than (trace) (1.75 h−1). Within four cycles, maintains an efficient catalytic rate. Due existence composites, photogenerated electron-hole pairs can be effectively separated, accelerates reaction reduces progress photocorrosion. This work reveals feasibility