Increasing the H2 production rate of ZnS(en)x hybrid and ZnS film by photoexfoliation process

Zinc sulfide nanosheets with different ethylenediamine contents (ZnS(en)(0.5) and ZnS(en)(0.25) hybrids) were prepared by solvothermal and hydrothermal methods at 100 degrees C and were sequentially sonicated-irradiated during 24 and 48 h to induce a photoexfoliation process. The influence of the photoexfoliation in the physicochemical properties and stability of both ZnS(en)(0.5) and ZnS(en)(0.25) hybrid nanosheets was investigated by diverse techniques: X-ray Diffraction, Textural analysis, Infrared, Diffuse Reflectance, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Then, the as-prepared and exfoliated hybrid nanosheets were deposited on glass substrates using spin coating. The photocatalytic H-2 production of the films was evaluated using an ethanol-water mixture for 6 h and three reaction cycles. A significant increase in the amount of produced H-2 was obtained for the exfoliated solvothermal sample, results that were correlated with the photoelectrochemical characterization of the films. (C) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, zinc sulfide nanosheets with different ethylenediamine contents were prepared and treated with a photoexfoliation process. The photoexfoliation significantly affected the physicochemical properties and stability of the nanosheets, leading to an increase in photocatalytic H-2 production.