In2S3 nanosheets growing on sheet-like g-C3N4 as high-performance photocatalyst for H2 evolution under visible light

As a potential environmental pollution control and clean energy synthesis technology, photocatalysis has attracted enormous attention of scientists, researchers, and innovators. However, conventional photocatalysts have encountered a lot of issues in solar light utilization and photocatalytic capability. Here, we proposed a solution by decorating narrow-bandgap In2S3 nanosheets on sheet-like g-C3N4 to form a Z-schemed photocatalyst to realize visible light utilization without sacrificing its photocatalytic capability. The composite was used to split water under visible light. Our results show that such a Z-schemed photocatalyst has excellent photocatalytic activity in H-2 evolution, which exhibited an H-2 generation rate up to 307 mu mol g(-1) h(-1) under 300 W Xe lamp illustration. The favorable performance benefits from the effective solar light absorption by the narrow-bandgap components, In2S3 and g-C3N4. The unique photocarriers transfer behavior in such a Z-scheme structure will respond to its high photocatalytic capability. The work finds new ideas to achieve high-performance photocatalysts by rationally designing their material architecture and energy band structure.

Automated summary

This study proposes a solution to the issues faced by conventional photocatalysts in solar light utilization and photocatalytic capability by decorating narrow-bandgap In2S3 nanosheets on g-C3N4 to form a Z-schemed photocatalyst. It achieves visible light utilization without sacrificing its photocatalytic capability, and the composite exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity in H-2 evolution under visible light.