A Bifunctional CdS/MoO₂/MoS₂ Catalyst Enhances Photocatalytic H₂ Evolution and Pyruvic Acid Synthesis

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The best use of photogenerated electrons and holes is crucial to boosting photocatalytic activity. Herein, a bifunctional dual-cocatalyst-modified photocatalyst is constructed based on CdS/MoO₂ /MoS₂ hollow spheres for hydrogen evolution coupled with selective pyruvic acid (PA) production from lactic acid (LA) oxidation. MoS₂ and MoO₂ are simultaneously obtained from the conversion of CdMoO₄ in one step. In a photocatalytic process, the MoS₂ and MoO₂ function as the reduction and oxidation centers on which photogenerated electrons and holes accumulate and are used for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and PA synthesis, respectively. By monitoring the intermediates, a two-step single-electron route for PA production is proposed, initiated by the cleavage of the α-C(sp³ )-H bond in the LA. The conversion of LA and the selectivity of PA can reach ca. 29 % and 95 % after a five-hour reaction, respectively.