Fabrication of Bi4Ti3O12/ZnIn2S4 S-scheme heterojunction for achieving efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water splitting is a technology that takes advantage of solar energy to produce clean and green hydrogen energy with wide application prospects. Herein, an S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst with a nanosheets-on-nanosheets structure was successfully prepared by using a simple low-temperature water bath method and ZnIn2S4 nanosheets are generated in situ on Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets, realizing efficient photocatalytic produce hydrogen under visible light irradiation. The optimal proportion of Bi4Ti3O12/ZnIn2S4 (BTO/ZIS) has extraordinary hydrogen production efficiency of 19.8 mmol h−1 g−1, 2.1 times that of pristine ZIS (9.2 mmol h−1 g−1). The main reasons for the improved activity of BTO/ZIS heterojunction photocatalysts are investigated by a series of photochemical characterization data analyses. Finally, its high photocatalytic performance can be attributed to more reactive active sites provided by the sheet-sheet heterostructure and the formation of S-scheme heterojunction between BTO and ZIS, which promotes the transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.