Tuning ZnCdS heterostructures for enhanced photocatalysis: Hybrid architectures for sustainable energy and environmental applications

Abstract

In response to the escalating global energy demand and environmental deterioration, the development of multifunctional materials capable of addressing both water purification and energy storage has received significant attention. Zinc cadmium sulfide (ZnCdS) based materials have emerged at the forefront of this scientific endeavour due to their exceptional characteristics, such as a high surface area. Despite these advantages, limitations, including low electrical conductivity, restricted accessibility of active sites, hindered mass transfer, and limited processability of ZnCdS materials, have curtailed their broader applications. To surmount these challenges, the integration of ZnCdS with complementary materials, particularly in hybrid architectures, has demonstrated promise by harnessing the synergistic functionalities of their constituents. This review comprehensively overviews recent advances in ZnCdS materials-based heterojunctions and their diverse applications. It discusses their structures and synthesis methodologies in detail, including the fabrication of nanomaterials with various dimensions- zero, one, two, and three to study their morphology. Furthermore, key approaches to performance enhancement, including elemental doping, defect engineering, and heterojunction formation, are critically discussed. The multifunctional applications of these ZnCdS heterostructures are explored in depth, with particular focus on adsorption, molecular separation, photocatalytic degradation, and electrochemical energy storage. Finally, the review highlights prevailing limitations and outlines prospective research directions aimed at unlocking the full potential of ZnCdS-based materials for sustainable environmental and energy technologies.