Sustainable hydrogen production through photocatalytic water splitting with CdO loaded MCM-48 under visible light

Efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation through water splitting are being explored in response to the growing demand for clean and renewable energy alternatives. In this work, different ratios of X%CdO/MCM-48 (X = 5, 10, 15, 20 %) cubic mesoporous framework were produced, and examined its hydrogen-generating capabilities. Wet impregnation followed by calcination at 500 °C for 4h was used to prepare the X%CdO/MCM-48 photocatalysts, which allowed the CdO nanoparticles to be optimally distributed on the large surface area of MCM-48. The efficient integration of CdO and the material's improved optical properties were confirmed by characterization techniques, including UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), PL spectrophotometer, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), nitrogen adsorption isotherm, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Photocatalytic experiments were conducted under visible light radiation (λ > 400 nm) using a linear halogen lamp (LHL, 550 nm, 500 W) as a radiation source revealing that the 10CdO/MCM-48 catalyst exhibited the highest activity with hydrogen generation of 248.52 mmol h−1g−1 and purity of 100 %. The enhanced light absorption and charge separation efficiency are ascribed to the combined action of CdO and MCM-48, which increases photocatalytic performance. These results imply that CdO/MCM-48 photocatalysts have the potential to be superior catalysts for the generation of green hydrogen. The catalyst retains excellent reusability and durability over seven cycles, making it sustainable and durable for photocatalytic hydrogen production procedures.