In situ electronic redistribution tuning of ZnIn2S4 nanosheets on NiCo2S4 hollow tube for boosted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

• Published in: Applied surface science 2022-10, Vol.598, p.153801, Article 153801
• Main Authors: Li, Wei, Ma, Hongyu, Liu, Zhifei, Li, Jiajun, Fang, Pengfei, Xiong, Rui, Pan, Chunxu, Wei, Jianhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electron transfer; Hierarchical structure; Ni-based cocatalyst; Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution; ZnIn2S4
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.153801

A ZnIn2S4@NiCo2S4 hollow tubular nanocomposite serves as a green, sustainable and high performance photocatalyst toward the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. [Display omitted] •A novel noble metal-free ZnIn2S4@NiCo2S4 hollow tubular composites were synthesized based on the combination of semiconductor and metal-like.•The H2 production ability of the optimal ZnIn2S4@NiCo2S4 photocatalyst was about 6.1 times higher than prinstine ZnIn2S4.•The optimal ZnIn2S4@NiCo2S4 photocatalyst exhibits excellent apparent quantum efficiency and long-term stability.•The photoelectric transfer mechanism were carefully investigated.•A feasible Schottky junction reaction mechanism was proposed. To overcome the serious drawbacks of fast charge recombination and the limited visible-light absorption of ZnIn2S4 semiconductor photocatalyst, herein, in situ growth of 2D ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) on the surface of NiCo2S4 (NCS) hollow tubes was designed and prepared through a multistep solvothermal means. The experimental results indicate that the ZIS@NCS composites possess large specific surface area and abundant photocatalytic active center due to the intimate interface contact between ZIS nanosheets and NCS hollow backbones, which are favorable for visible light absorption and the interfacial carrier transfer in photocatalytic reaction process. Density functional theory further proved the above insights. The dynamics of photo-induced electrons were extensively characterized. As a result, the optimal sample of ZIS@NCS-7 exhibited the highest hydrogen evolution rate of 1950 μmol h−1 g−1, which was 6.1 times that of pristine ZIS and much higher than the other photocatalysts under otherwise identical conditions. The apparent quantum efficiency of ZIS@NCS-7 composites reached 9.3% at 420 nm. This work provides a novel standpoint for the design and construction of more efficient photocatalyst with robust light absorption.