Fabricating 1D/2D Co3O4/ZnIn2S4 core-shell heterostructures with boosted charge transfer for photocatalytic hydrogen production

Multidimensional hierarchical hollow Co3O4/ZnIn2S4 tubular core-shell heterostructures were prepared by growing ultrathin two-dimensional ZnIn2S4 nanosheets on one-dimensional hollow Co3O4 nanotubes by a simple solvothermal method. The design of this multidimensional hollow core-shell heterostructure not only avoids the self-assembly aggregation of ZnIn2S4 nanosheets but also broadens their light-absorption range and improves the utilization of visible light. The internal electric field formed by the p-n heterojunction in the photocatalyst can promote the separation and migration of photogenerated e(-) and h(+) species, and therefore the recombination of photogenerated carriers can be effectively suppressed.

Automated summary

Multidimensional hierarchical hollow Co3O4/ZnIn2S4 tubular core-shell heterostructures were prepared by growing ultrathin 2D ZnIn2S4 nanosheets on 1D hollow Co3O4 nanotubes using a solvothermal method. This design not only prevents the self-assembly aggregation of ZnIn2S4 nanosheets, but also broadens their light-absorption range and enhances the utilization of visible light. The p-n heterojunction in the photocatalyst generates an internal electric field, which facilitates the separation and migration of photogenerated charge carriers and effectively suppresses their recombination.