In-situ synthesis of direct Z-scheme 2D/2D ZnIn2S4@CeO2 heterostructure toward enhanced photodegradation and Cr(VI) reduction

The rationally designed semiconductor photocatalytic materials have attracted significant attention because of their huge advantages in the use of solar light. Herein, a series of direct Z-scheme heterojunction na-nocomposites were synthesized via in situ growth of zinc indium sulfide nanosheets on ceria nanosheets (ZnIn2S4@CeO2) and employed for effective photodegradation and Cr(VI) reduction. Advanced character-izations such as XPS, EPR spectra, and DFT calculations verified that the formation of direct Z-scheme charges transfer mechanism promoted rapid charge separation and retained strong redox capacity. As a result, the optimized ZnIn2S4@CeO2 sample showed significantly promoted photocatalytic removal rates for tetracycline (TC) and Cr(VI) at a 3.7 and 4.5 times enhancement by comparison with the pristine ZnIn2S4, respectively. Additionally, after four consecutive cyclic tests, the as-synthesized nanocomposite exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activity and stability. The present work provides an integrated engineering strategy for Z-scheme photocatalyst systems with high photocatalytic efficiency and extensive applications.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, a series of direct Z-scheme heterojunction nanocomposites were synthesized and demonstrated significant effects in photocatalytic degradation and Cr(VI) reduction. The optimized sample showed enhanced photocatalytic removal rates and exhibited remarkable activity and stability. This research provides an integrated engineering strategy for Z-scheme photocatalyst systems with high efficiency and extensive applications.