Straightforward High-Pressure Synthesis and Characterization of Indium-Based Thiospinels: Photocatalytic Potential for Hydrogen Production

Ternary chalcogenides (AB2X4) based on the spinel structure are gaining a great deal of attention because of the possibility of tuning their magnetic and optoelectronic properties not only by changing chemical composition but also by altering their degree of inversion. Here we report a rapid high‐pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of inorganic chemistry 2016-04, Vol.2016 (10), p.1558-1565
Main Authors: Falcón, Horacio, Tartaj, Pedro, Vaquero, Fernando, Navarro, Rufino M., Fierro, Jose Luis G., Bolletta, Juan P., de Paoli, Juan M., Carbonio, Raul E., Fernández-Díaz, Maria Teresa, Alonso, Jose Antonio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aqueous solutions
Chalcogens
Dihydrogen
High-pressure chemistry
Photocatalysis
Synthetic methods
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Summary:Ternary chalcogenides (AB2X4) based on the spinel structure are gaining a great deal of attention because of the possibility of tuning their magnetic and optoelectronic properties not only by changing chemical composition but also by altering their degree of inversion. Here we report a rapid high‐pressure synthetic method for the synthesis of MIn2S4 powders starting from commercially available solid sulfides. We prove the versatility of our method by reporting the synthesis of six members of the MIn2S4 family (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, and Cd) under high‐pressure conditions (3.5 GPa); these compounds show complete to moderate degrees of inversion. Furthermore, this family covers a spectral region that includes visible band gaps. Interestingly, the structural refinement carried out by X‐ray and neutron diffraction allows one to establish positive correlations between the gap and different parameters, including the degree of inversion. Finally, as a proof‐of‐concept, these ternary chalcogenides show moderate photocatalytic hydrogen production from aqueous solutions. We describe a high‐pressure synthetic method for MIn2S4 powders starting from commercially available solid sulfides (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, and Cd) that show variable inversion degrees. This family covers a spectral region that includes visible band gaps. As a proof‐of‐concept, these ternary chalcogenides show moderate photocatalytic hydrogen production from aqueous solutions.
ISSN:1434-1948
1099-0682
DOI:10.1002/ejic.201501390