Fig 1

(a) XRD patterns of pure ZnO, CdS, ZnS samples and binary composites ZnS/ZnO, and ZnS/CdS; (b) XRD of ternary composites; (c, d) HRTEM and HAADF images of ternary ZZC14% composite; (e–h) elemental mapping images of Zn, O, Cd, and S elements."

Fig 2

XPS analysis of ZnO, ZnO/ZnS, CdS, and ZZC14%: (a) Zn 2p, (b) O 1s, (c) Cd 3d, and (d) S 2p spectra."

Fig 3

(a, b) Hydrogen evolution rates of pure and composite materials; (c) stability test, (d) AQE (%) of ZZC14%."

Fig 4

(a) UV-Vis curves, (b) (𝛼hv)2 vs. energy, (c) photocurrent curves vs. time, and (d) EIS curves of ZnO, CdS, ZnS, ZnO/ZnS. ZZC14%."

Fig 5

(a) Mott-Schottky curves of pure ZnO, (b) ZnS, (c) CdS; UPS spectra of (d) ZnO, (e) ZnS, and (f) CdS samples."

Fig 6

(a) AFM image, (b, c) KPFM results under the dark and light conditions, and (d) contact potential difference (CPD) of ZnO/ZnS binary composite from A position to B position of area 1."

Fig 7

(a) AFM image, (b, c) KPFM under the dark and light conditions, (d) contact potential difference (CPD) of ZnS/CdS binary composite from A position to B position of area 1."

Fig 8

DFT calculations of (a) ZnS (111), (b) CdS (111), and (c) ZnO (101) crystal plane; (d) The schematic diagram of ZnS-CdS-ZnO semiconductors before contact."

Fig 9

(a, b) EPR spectra of DMPO-•OH and DMPO-•O2− adducts irradiated with 365 nm light for ZnO, CdS, and ZZC14%; (c) LSV curves of ZnO, CdS, and their ternary composites; (d) Electron transport mechanism diagram of double S-scheme heterojunction after irradiation."