Facile Synthesis of 2D/2D Ti2C3/ZnIn2S4 Heterostructure for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

ZnIn2S4, a novel two-dimensional visible light-responsive photocatalyst, has attracted much attention in the photocatalytic evolution of H-2 under visible light irradiation due to its attractive intrinsic photoelectric properties and geometric configuration. However, ZnIn2S4 still has severe charge recombination, which results in moderate photocatalytic performance. Herein, we report the successful synthesis of 2D/2D ZnIn2S4/Ti3C2 nanocomposites by a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The efficiency of the nanocomposites in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation was also evaluated for different ratios of Ti3C2, and the optimal photocatalytic activity was achieved at 5% Ti3C2. Importantly, the activity was significantly higher than that of pure ZnIn2S4, ZnIn2S4/Pt, and ZnIn2S4/graphene. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is mainly due to the close interfacial contact between Ti3C2 and ZnIn2S4 nanosheets, which amplifies the transport of photogenerated electrons and enhances the separation of photogenerated carriers. This research describes a novel approach for the synthesis of 2D MXenes for photocatalytic hydrogen production and expands the utility of MXene composite materials in the fields of energy storage and conversion.

Automated summary

We report the successful synthesis of 2D/2D ZnIn2S4/Ti3C2 nanocomposites by a facile one-step hydrothermal method, and evaluated their photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance under visible light irradiation. The optimal photocatalytic activity was achieved at 5% Ti3C2, which was significantly higher than that of pure ZnIn2S4, ZnIn2S4/Pt, and ZnIn2S4/graphene. The enhanced activity is attributed to the close interfacial contact between Ti3C2 and ZnIn2S4 nanosheets, which enhances the transport and separation of photogenerated carriers. This research introduces a novel approach for the synthesis of 2D MXenes for photocatalytic hydrogen production and expands their application in energy storage and conversion.