Rational Design of Cu-Doped ZnS Nanospheres for Photocatalytic Evolution of H₂ with Visible Light

Photocatalytic reactions to produce hydrogen from water under visible-light irradiation are an important key process for solar energy utilization. Because Cu-doped ZnS undergoes redox reactions upon irradiation with visible light, these materials have been applied to hydrogen production. In this study, Cu-doped ZnS catalysts were prepared by a solvothermal method, and their structures were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopic studies. Cu-doped ZnS consists of nanospherical particles with a diameter of 50 nm. Cu²⁺ doping in ZnS causes structural distortion of the ZnS. The local structures were analyzed by X-ray absorption fine structure studies. As the amount of Cu added to ZnS increased, the degree of distortion of the ZnS structure also increased, and this degree of distortion reached a maximum when the Cu/Zn ratio was 0.07 (7% Cu doping). Cu-doped ZnS exhibited high activity in the hydrogen production reaction from water using Na₂S and Na₂SO₃ as sacrificial agents under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm), and the highest activity was observed at 7% Cu doping.