Hierarchical ZnIn2 S4 /MoSe2 Nanoarchitectures for Efficient Noble-Metal-Free Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution under Visible Light

ChemSusChem. 2017 Nov 23;10(22):4624-4631. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201701345. Epub 2017 Sep 13.

Abstract

A highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst is urgently necessary for photocatalytic hydrogen generation through water splitting. Herein, ZnIn2 S4 hierarchical architectures assembled as ultrathin nanosheets were synthesized by a facile one-pot polyol approach. Subsequently, the two-dimensional-network-like MoSe2 was successfully hybridized with ZnIn2 S4 by taking advantage of their analogous intrinsic layered morphologies. The noble-metal-free ZnIn2 S4 /MoSe2 heterostructures show enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution compared to pure ZnIn2 S4 . It is noteworthy that the optimum nanocomposite of ZnIn2 S4 /2 % MoSe2 photocatalyst displays a high H2 generation rate of 2228 μmol g-1 h-1 and an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 21.39 % at 420 nm. This study presents an unprecedented ZnIn2 S4 /MoSe2 metal-sulfide-metal-selenide hybrid system for H2 evolution. Importantly, the present efficient hybridization strategy reveals the potential of hierarchical nanoarchitectures for a multitude of energy storage and solar energy conversion applications.

Keywords: hydrogen production; molybdenum selenide; photocatalysts; visible light; zinc.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Catalysis
  • Hydrogen / chemistry*
  • Light*
  • Molybdenum
  • Photochemical Processes*
  • Selenium
  • Solar Energy
  • Sulfides
  • Zinc Compounds

Substances

  • Sulfides
  • Zinc Compounds
  • Hydrogen
  • Molybdenum
  • Selenium
  • zinc sulfide