Facile decoration of Au nanoparticles on CdS nanorods by polyoxometalate with enhanced photocatalytic activities toward hydrogen evolution.

The tri-component hybrid CdS nanorods (NRs)/Au nanoparticles (NPs)@polyoxometalate (POM) was successfully prepared by a facile, efficient and green method. The structural properties and component analysis were studied by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis spectra. The POMs sever as not only reductant and bridge molecules, but also as co-catalyst to play an important role in the photocatalytic process. The as-prepared nanohybrid shows obviously enhanced photocatalytic activity toward photocatalytic evolution of hydrogen.