Preparation of a Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotube/Cd0.8Zn0.2S Nanocomposite and Its Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Activity

Single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and Cd 0.8 Zn 0.2 S nanocomposites were fabricated by a coprecipitation process with prefunctionalized SWCNTs as the starting material. The resultant SWCNT/Cd 0.8 Zn 0.2 S composites were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV/Vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The addition of SWCNTs improve both the visible‐light‐induced activity and stability for H 2 production of Cd 0.8 Zn 0.2 S, and 10 wt.‐% SWCNT/Cd 0.8 Zn 0.2 S exhibits a maximum activity (632 mmol h –1 ) for H 2 production that is ca. 1.40 times higher than that (451 mmol h –1 ) of Cd 0.8 Zn 0.2 S alone. This enhanced photoactivity of Cd 0.8 Zn 0.2 S through the incorporation of SWCNTs can be attributed to the synergetic effects of the intrinsic properties of its components; the functionalized SWCNTs act as the supporting matrix and electron acceptor of Cd 0.8 Zn 0.2 S and cause an effective charge separation at the SWCNT/Cd 0.8 Zn 0.2 S interfaces and an improvement in the photoactivity and stability for H 2 production.