Hierarchical CdIn2S4 microspheres wrapped by mesoporous g-C3N4 ultrathin nanosheets with enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic reduction activity

Wei Chen; Ting Huang; Yu-Xiang Hua; Tian-Yu Liu; Xiao-Heng Liu; Shen-Ming Chen

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.08.025

Hierarchical CdIn₂S₄ microspheres wrapped by mesoporous g-C₃N₄ ultrathin nanosheets with enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic reduction activity

J Hazard Mater. 2016 Dec 15:320:529-538. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.08.025. Epub 2016 Aug 20.

Authors

Wei Chen¹, Ting Huang¹, Yu-Xiang Hua¹, Tian-Yu Liu¹, Xiao-Heng Liu², Shen-Ming Chen³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Education Ministry for Soft Chemistry and Functional Materials, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
² Key Laboratory of Education Ministry for Soft Chemistry and Functional Materials, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China. Electronic address: xhliu@mail.njust.edu.cn.
³ Electroanalysis and Bioelectrochemistry Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Chung-Hsiao East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: smchen78@ms15.hinet.net.

PMID: 27597153
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.08.025

Abstract

In this investigation, a series of hierarchical CdIn₂S₄/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites were firstly synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal strategy, wherein the mesoporous g-C₃N₄ nanosheets were in-situ self-wrapped onto CdIn₂S₄ nanosheets. Systematic characterization by XRD, FT-IR, UV-vis DRS, SEM, TEM, HAAF-STEM, XPS, photoelectrochemical tests were employed to analyze the phase structure, chemical composition, morphology and photocatalytic mechanism. The application, including photo-redox reaction and photocatalytic water splitting, were used to estimate the photocatalytic activity of as-obtained CdIn₂S₄/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites. The results indicate that CdIn₂S₄/g-C₃N₄ heterostructures exhibit more efficient improvement of the photocatalytic performances towards photo-reduction of 4-NA to corresponding 4-PDA and photocatalytic H₂ generation from water splitting than these counterparts as results of construction of intimate interfacial contact, which would promote the separation of photo-generated holes and electrons. Meanwhile, benefitting from the excellent surface wrap, the CdIn₂S₄/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites possess notable enhanced photocatalytic stability. This research may provide a promising way to fabricate highly efficient photocatalysts with excellent stability and expand the application of CdIn₂S₄ in fine chemical engineering.

Keywords: 4-NA; CdIn(2)S(4); H(2) evolution; Photocatalytic redox; g-C(3)N(4) nanosheets.