A photocatalyst capable of harnessing direct sunlight for producing hydrogen through water splitting is the need of the hour. In this work, this is achieved by depositing hydrothermally prepared MoS2 over APTES-modified, nitrogen-rich graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N5) to form a heterostructure. This heterojunction composite demonstrates elevated rates of hydrogen evolution via a triethylamine-assisted photocatalytic reaction, as evidenced by both photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performances. The optimized sample of 5% MoS2/g-C3N5 composite accomplished photocatalytic hydrogen production of 1184.4 & micro;mol g-1 h-1 under a solar simulator and 3184 & micro;mol g-1 h-1 when exposed to direct sunlight. A high cathodic current density (-321 & micro;A cm-2 for 5% MoS2/g-C3N5, at 0.0 V vs. RHE) in linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and an immediate current response in a transient current study during photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions (PEC HER) validate its high efficacy for hydrogen evolution. A significant increase in light absorption, charge separation, and charge carrier migration in the composite accounts for the enhancement in photoactivity. The study provides a roadmap for the construction of stable g-C3N5 composites with transition metal chalcogenides for green hydrogen production.

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