The enhanced performance of Cr(VI) photoreduction and antibiotic removal on 2D/3D TiO2/ZnIn2S4 nanostructures

In this study, 2D/3D TiO2/ZnIn2S4 nanostructures with TiO2 sheet cluster embedded into ZnIn2S4 micro flowers were fabricated via hydrothermal method. The matched band structure, the enlarged surface area and the efficient photo-induced charge transfer offered by effective heterostructures formed between the two components endowed the TiO2/ZnIn2S4 nanoarchitecture with excellent photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) degradation performance. Especially, the Cr(VI) photoreduction efficiency of 50% TiO2/ZnIn2S4 was 8.8 times higher compared to pure ZnIn2S4. The enhanced separation efficiency of photoexcited charge carriers was induced by the matched band structure, the enlarged surface area and the strong interaction between TiO2 and ZnIn2S4. The key roles of center dot O-2 was confirmed via trapping experiments. Otherwise, the pathway of TC degradation was investigated. The proposed mechanism during photocatalysis process was also discussed according to the photocatalytic and characterization results.

Automated summary

2D/3D TiO2/ZnIn2S4 nanostructures with TiO2 sheet cluster embedded into ZnIn2S4 micro flowers were fabricated via hydrothermal method in this study. The TiO2/ZnIn2S4 nanoarchitecture exhibited excellent photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) degradation performance, attributed to matched band structure, enlarged surface area, and efficient photo-induced charge transfer between the two components.