Hierarchical Co_9S_8/ZnIn_2S_4 Nanoflower Enables Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Photocatalysis

摘要

Photocatalytic water splitting with clean solarenergy is a sustainable way to produce green hydrogen (H2)fuel. Here, an efficient, visible-light-responsive hierarchical Co9S8/ZnIn2S4photocatalyst is designed by decorating Co9S8nano-particles on ZnIn2S4nanoflower through a two-step solvothermalprocess for photocatalytic H2evolution. Two photoactive sulfide-sulfide integrations in a stable, hierarchical, andflower-like Co9S8/ZnIn2S4heterojunction, provide large surface areas with rich activecenters and endow a quick separation and transfer of photoinducedelectrons and holes. With the optimal loading amount of Co9S8,the Co9S8/ZnIn2S4photocatalyst, under visible-light illumination,free of any cocatalysts, reaches a high hydrogen evolution rate of 126.7 mu mol h-1or 12.67 mmol h-1g-1with high stability, which is6 times higher than that of individual ZnIn2S4. Our effort may give some inspirations to the delicate design of competent novelstructured photocatalysts for reinforcing photocatalytic performance.