Unveiling the synergistic doping and heterojunction of P-doped C3N5/CdS towards solar-driven hydrogen generation.

This study constructed a synergistic homo-/heterojunction zinc blende/wurtzite cadmium sulfide/phosphorus-doped polymeric C 3 N 5 (ZB/WZ CS/PCN). It was found that manipulating Cd/S precursor ratio with Na 2 S as the S precursor can effectively control the growth of high-energy facets. Concurrently, the presence of P -doping in PCN can adequately tune the optical properties of CN through the presence of P –C/P–N/P N linkage within the CN heterocyclic ring. Owing to the intimate heterojunction which boosted the carrier transfer between CS and PCN, the optimal CS/PCN 10% produced 3840.5 μmol g−1 h−1 of hydrogen with prolonged stability (>56 h), giving rise to the intimate heterojunction and robustness. As a proof-of-concept, CS/PCN 10% was also deposited onto a 3D printed substrate obtained by fused deposition modeling (FDM), offering clear advantages for reusability of light-induced photocatalytic applications. Overall, this work provides insights into the universal application of CS/PCN photocatalysts in future scale-up opportunities of photocatalytic-based systems. [Display omitted] • Facet-engineered zinc-blende and wurtzite CdS by regulating Cd/S precursor ratio. • Synergistic P –N/P N bonding in P -doped C 3 N 5 and ZB/WZ CdS ameliorates the properties. • Photocatalyst reusability and recyclability by fused deposition modeling 3D printer. • ZB/WZ CS/PCN 10% with long term stability (>56 h) and AQY of 1.4% at 420 nm. • Multifarious application in HER, H 2 O 2 , CO 2 RR and fine chemical synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]