Boosting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production via Interfacial Engineering on 2D Ultrathin Z-Scheme ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 Heterojunction

2D layered nanomaterials as photocatalysts have attracted much attention in the field of solar hydrogen production due to their unique electronic structure and abundant active sites. Nevertheless, the rational design and interfacial regulation of 2D Z-scheme heterojunction are still challenging. Herein, an ultrathin 2D ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 Z-scheme heterojunction is precisely constructed via in-situ growth of ZnIn2S4 on the g-C3N4. By carefully regulating the interface structure in heterojunction, the hydrogen evolution performance can be greatly improved. The optimized photocatalyst exhibits a remarkable photocatalytic activity without Pt as cocatalyst, which is primarily ascribed to the synergistic effect of abundant active sites, enhanced photoresponse, and valid interfacial charge transfer channels. Meanwhile, the spectroscopic analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculation results comprehensively prove that the promoted interfacial charge separation in 2D Z-scheme heterojunction is another key factor for the enhanced photocatalytic performance. This work offers a new avenue for the rational design of ultrathin Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts with improved photocatalytic performance through interfacial engineering.

Automated summary

The construction of an ultrathin 2D ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 Z-scheme heterojunction through in-situ growth of ZnIn2S4 on g-C3N4 allows for greatly improved hydrogen evolution performance by carefully regulating the interface structure. The optimized photocatalyst demonstrates significant photocatalytic activity without Pt, attributing to the synergistic effect of abundant active sites, enhanced photoresponse, and valid interfacial charge transfer channels. Spectroscopic analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that the enhanced photocatalytic performance is also due to promoted interfacial charge separation in the 2D Z-scheme heterojunction.