Synthesis and photoactivity of CdS photocatalysts modified by polypyrrole

A series of polypyrrole (PPy)/CdS photocatalysts were synthesized by 'in-situ' chemical oxidative polymerization with different dopants. The as-prepared photocatalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra (PL). Under visible light, the as-prepared PPy/CdS photocatalysts were used to photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen evolution for the first time without the presence noble metals. The results showed that the photocatalytic activity of as-prepared PPy/CdS photocatalysts with Na ₂S and Na ₂SO ₃ as sacrificial reagents was better than that of CdS. It suggested that the activity of H ₂ evolution was greatly improved when CdS photocatalysts were modified by PPy.