MOF-templated and phase-controlled synthesis of CdS hierarchical nanostructures for visible-light-driven photocatalytic applications

Developing delicate methods to synthesize well-controlled nanostructures is diffusely recognized as a potent tool to enhance photocatalysts’ performances in various photoreactions. Herein, phase-controlled CdS hierarchical nanostructures were synthesized using a MOF-templated strategy, where Co-MOF nanospheres were used as the starting material, followed by two steps of sulfidation and cation exchange. By rational collocations of the solvent and Cd source in the cation exchange process, cubic CdS hollow hierarchical nanospheres and hexagonal CdS hierarchical nanostructures can be obtained, respectively. Further tests revealed that during the photo-reduction reaction of CO2, the former exhibited high performance in producing H2. At the same time, the latter showed a superior activity and selectivity for CO generation, which embodies the potential of MOF-templated synthesis and selective applications of CdS hierarchical nanostructures with disparate phases.