Synergistic S-scheme heterojunction and ligand-to-metal charge transfer in Ni-MOF/CdS for bifunctional photoredox catalysis.

S-scheme heterojunctions favor efficient charge separation while preserving strong redox capabilities. Here, we report a Ni-MOF/CdS S-scheme heterojunction synthesized via in situ growth of CdS nanoparticles on a lamellar Ni-MOF. The synergy between the ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) state of Ni-MOF and the S-scheme charge transfer mechanism broadens light absorption and enhances charge separation. The optimal Ni-MOF/CdS achieves H2 evolution of 20.7 mmol g-1 h-1 and a benzaldehyde yield of 20.0 mmol g-1 h-1 without a co-catalyst, outperforming pristine Ni-MOF and CdS by 20-fold and 2.6-fold, respectively.