Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Using Ternary-Metal-Sulfide/TiO2 Heterojunction Photocatalysts

The development of efficient and stable photocatalysts is key to achieving highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Compared with photocatalysts containing only one type of semiconductor, heterojunction structure photocatalyst combining two or more semiconductors show altered band alignment at the interface, which promotes the separation of photogenerated carriers and inhibits carrier recombination. Thus, this kind of photocatalysts usually exhibit higher hydrogen evolution rates. To date, binary-metal-sulfide/titanium oxide (BMS/TiO2) heterojunction photocatalysts, such as CdS/TiO2, MoS2/TiO2, and ZnS/TiO2, have shown great promise for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Compared with BMS/TiO2, recently developed ternary-metal-sulfide/TiO2 (TMS/TiO2) photocatalysts have the advantages of low toxicity, a tunable band structure, and favorable chemical stability, enabling a higher photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate. In this review, TMS/TiO2 heterojunction photocatalysts are thoroughly summarized and the semiconductor properties of TMSs are firstly introduced. Afterwards, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution applications based on TMS/TiO2 heterojunction photocatalysts are reviewed and discussed in detail, mainly focusing on the heterojunction type, band structure, and photogenerated carrier separation and transport. Finally, our conclusions and the perspective based on the potential for the further improvement of TMS/TiO2 based photocatalysts are presented.

Automated summary

This review article summarizes the development and application of TMS/TiO2 heterojunction photocatalysts, including their characteristics, properties, and advantages, and discusses the factors influencing photocatalytic hydrogen evolution process.