Hollow core-shell Co9S8@In2S3 nanotube heterojunctions toward optimized photothermal-photocatalytic performance

摘要

Reasonable design of advanced semiconductor photocatalyst structures is an effective strategy for solar-to-chemical energy conversion. Herein, hollow core-shell Co9S8@In2S3 nanotube heterojunctions are designed through two-step hydrothermal and solvothermal strategies. The construction of the heterojunction between Co9S8 and In2S3 enhances the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs, and the hollow structure of Co9S8@In2S3 improves the scattering and refraction efficiency of incident light and the core-shell structure increases the contact area and provides adequate surface-active sites. In addition, the broad-spectrum absorption enables Co9S8@In2S3 to possess a satisfactory photothermal conversion ability, which can promote the photocatalytic hydrogen production obviously by increasing the system temperature. The maximum photocatalytic H-2 productivity achieved on the 20%Co9S8@In2S3 heterojunction is up to 4072.0 mu mol g(-1) h(-1) without any noble metal as co-catalysts, which is 11.7 times higher than that of pristine In2S3 due to the efficient fabrication of the hollow core-shell heterojunction.