Hierarchical Co9S8/ZnIn2S4Nanoflower Enables Enhanced HydrogenEvolution Photocatalysis

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.

Automated summary

In this study, an efficient visible-light-responsive hierarchical Co9S8/ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution was designed and prepared. The photocatalyst exhibited high hydrogen evolution rate and stability in a stable hierarchical structure.