In Situ Decoration of Zn Cd S with FeP for Efficient Photocatalytic Generation of Hydrogen under Irradiation with Visible Light.

FeP as a noble-metal-free catalyst has been successfully decorated onto the Zn Cd S photocatalyst surface through an in situ phosphating process. In particular, the 2 % FeP/Zn Cd S-P sample showed the best hydrogen generation activity of 24.45 mmol h  g which is over 130 times higher than that of pure Zn Cd S and nearly 1.3 times higher than that of the 1 % Pt-loaded Zn Cd S-P sample. The apparent quantum yield (AQY) of the 2 % FeP/Zn Cd S-P was estimated to be over 10 % at wavelengths up to 470 nm. The fluorescence spectra and electrochemical measurement results suggest that the decorated FeP not only reduces the overpotential for H evolution but also promotes the separation of the photogenerated charge carriers through formation of a heterojunction with Zn Cd S, which eventually leads to the superior activity of the FeP/Zn Cd S-P photocatalyst for visible-light-driven hydrogen generation.