ZnIn2S4 flowerlike microspheres embedded with carbon quantum dots for efficient photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI)

Development of efficient heterostructured photocatalysts that respond to visible light remains a considerable challenge. We herein show the synthesis of ZnIn2S4/carbon quantum dot hybrid photocatalysts with flowerlike microspheres via a facile solvothermal method. The ZnIn2S4/carbon quantum dot flowerlike microspheres display enhanced photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical activity compared with that of pure ZnIn2S4. With a content of only 0.5 wt % carbon quantum dots, 93% of Cr(VI) is reduced under visible-light irradiation at 40 min. As a co-catalyst, the carbon quantum dots improve the light absorption and lengthen the lifetime of charge carriers, consequently enhancing the photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical activity. (C) 2018, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.