Hydrogen solar fuel generation from photocatalytic decomposition of H2S-containing media via nanostructured solid-solution semiconductor

Subject Areas :

M Ghanimati ¹ , Sh Afshari ² , M Lashgari ³

1 - Department of Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, 45137-66731, Iran.
2 - Department of Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS), Zanjan, 45137-66731, Iran.
3 - Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Laboratory, Center for Research in Climate Change and Global Warming (CRCCGW), Zanjan 45137-66731, Iran.

Received: 2021-12-17 Accepted : 2021-12-17 Published : 2019-12-01

Keywords: Photocatalyst, Solar hydrogen generation, H2S photodecomposition, solid-solution semiconductor,

Abstract :

Hydrogen sulfide is a flammable, malodorous, highly toxic and corrosive compound which is produced in large quantities as a by-product in many industrial processes. However, it will be economically and environmentally advantageous if it is photodecomposed to generate hydrogen, which is a clean and renewable energy carrier. In this paper, a nanostructured solid-solution semiconductor material from the family of cadmium-zinc-sulfide was synthesized through a facile hydrothermal method and was applied as alloy photocatalyst to generate hydrogen fuel via a H2S photodecomposition process. Morphological and optical properties of the sample have been characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, EDS and UV-vis DRS techniques. Solid-solution semiconductor exhibited a good photocatalytic performance.