Mn2+-doped ZnS–CdS alloy nanocrystals for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction

The effect of doping of the ZnxCd1−xS (x=0.37–0.50) alloy nanocrystals with Mn2+ ions on the rate and apparent quantum yield of the photocatalytic H2 evolution catalyzed by this alloy has been investigated. It has been found that the ZnS shell significantly increases the lifetime of the Mn2+ excited state, which leads to the generation of ‘hot’ electrons and the two-photon photocatalytic reduction of hydrogen ions. An analysis of the characteristics of nanocrystals without a ZnS shell with similar excitation energies of the edge exciton revealed that the efficiency of the alloy doped with Mn2+ ions is 1.2–1.3 times higher due to an increase in the lifetime of photoinduced electron–hole pairs.