Mo-Modified ZnIn2S4@NiTiO3 S-Scheme Heterojunction with Enhanced Interfacial Electric Field for Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution

Designing and developing visible-light-responsive materials for solar to chemical energy is an efficient and promising approach to green and sustainable carbon-neutral energy systems. Herein, a facile in situ growth hydrothermal strategy using Mo-modified ZnIn2S4 (Mo-ZIS) nanosheets coupled with NiTiO3 (NTO) microrods to synthesize multifunctional Mo-modified ZIS wrapped NTO microrods (Mo-ZIS@NTO) photocatalyst with enhanced interfacial electric field (IEF) effect and typical S-scheme heterojunction is reported. Mo-ZIS@NTO catalyst possesses wide-spectrum light absorption properties, excellent visible light-to-thermal energy effect, electron mobility, charges transfer, and strong IEF and exhibits excellent solar-to-chemical energy conversion for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Notably, the engineered Mo-1.4-ZIS@NTO catalyst exhibits superior performance with H-2 evolution rate of up to 14.06 mmol g(-1) h(- 1) and the apparent quantum efficiency of 44.1% at 420 nm. The scientific explorations provide an in-depth understanding of microstructure, S-scheme heterojunction, enhanced IEF, Mo-dopant facilitation effect. Moreover, the theoretical simulations verify the critical role of Mo element in promoting the adsorption and activation of H2O molecules, modulating the H adsorption behavior on active S sites, and thus accelerating the overall catalytic efficiency. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution mechanism via S-scheme heterojunction with adjustable IEF regulation over Mo-1.4-ZIS@NTO is also demonstrated.

Automated summary

Design and synthesis of a multifunctional Mo-modified ZIS wrapped NTO microrods photocatalyst with enhanced interfacial electric field (IEF) effect and typical S-scheme heterojunction is reported. The catalyst exhibits wide-spectrum light absorption properties, excellent visible light-to-thermal energy effect, electron mobility, charges transfer, and strong IEF, resulting in efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The Mo-1.4-ZIS@NTO catalyst shows superior performance with a high H2 evolution rate and apparent quantum efficiency.