A review of recent progress in solar fuel (Hydrogen) generation via photocatalytic water-splitting of cadmium sulfide (CdS) based photocatalyst
Dahiru Umaru, Hafeez Yusuf Hafeez, J. Mohammed, Abdussalam Balarabe Suleiman, Chifu Ebenezer Ndikilar, Yusuf Zakariyya
Abstract
Globally, energy demand and environmental pollution affect the development of society. However, solar fuel generation via photocatalytic water-splitting became the most viable approach to address the global energy crisis. Cadmium sulfide is considered an ideal material for solar fuel (hydrogen) generation due to its promising, low-cost, suitable bandgap energy, desired band alignment, affordability, and simple preparation method. However, the solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency of CdS-based materials still needs to improve due to the high rate of photogenerated electron-hole pair recombination and photocorrosion, resulting in poor photocatalytic performance. Herein, an emerging approach for enhancing the stability and photocatalytic activity of CdS is discussed, including designing heterostructure, co-catalyst loading, etc., with a focus on charge carrier separation and transfer. Particular attention is given to the mechanism of the emerging approach that influences photocatalytic water-splitting. This review focuses on designing and developing of strategy for enhancing anti-photocorrosion CdS-based materials for solar fuel generation. Notably, the solar H2 production improvements achieved in studying the CdS material as the main photocatalyst, not a co-catalyst, were exclusively reviewed and discussed. The prospective, challenges and development in preparation for anti-photo corrosion CdS are discussed. Thus, this review would likely motivate researchers to broaden the applications for CdS-based materials in solar fuel (hydrogen) generation in an economical and eco-friendly approach.