Solvothermal fabrication of MoS2 anchored on ZnIn2S4 microspheres with boosted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity

The MoS2/ZnIn2S4 composites with MoS2 anchored on the surface of ZnIn2S4 microspheres were fabricated by a facile solvothermal method. To clarify the crystal phases, morphologies, chemical compositions, optical properties, and special surface areas of the obtained photocatalysts, the corresponding characterization measurements were performed. The photocatalytic H-2 evolution activities of MoS2/ZnIn2S4 composites were evaluated and compared with using lactic acid as sacrificial reagents. The results showed that integrating MoS2 with ZnIn2S4 could remarkably boost the photocatalytic H-2 evolution performance and the maximum H-2 evolution rate of 201 mu mol h(-1) was achieved over 1 wt% MoS2 loading on the ZnIn2S4, corresponding to the apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) about 3.08% at 420 nm monochromatic light. The photoelectrochemical tests and photoluminescence spectra (PL) versified that the efficient charge transfer and separation were achieved over MoS2/ZnIn2S4 composite in contrast with single ZnIn2S4, which would significantly benefit the enhancement of photocatalytic H-2 activity. This work provides a desired strategy to design and synthesize the visible-light-response photocatalysts with MoS2 as cocatalysts to enhance the photocatalytic activity. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.