Abstract
A series of ZnIn2S4 materials have been synthesized by a simple mixed solvothermal process in a water–ethanol solution. It was found that the solvent composition had a large impact on the photocatalytic activity. A fluffy structure of ZnIn2S4 synthesized with 1.5 mL of water presents the highest H2 evolution rate (268 μmol h−1) under visible light (λ > 400 nm) in a SO32−/S2− aqueous solution. Combining results from TEM, the intensity ratio of diffraction peaks and dye adsorption analysis, we found that the increase of {100} facets generated in the mixed solvothermal process led to a distinct enhancement of photoreactivity. To investigate the origin of the facet-dependent photocatalytic activity, an electrostatic potential calculation was conducted to investigate the electron process, which indicated that photoexcited carriers preferentially migrate to atomic steps on the {100} facets. This cooperative effect between the {100} facets and the electron diffusion process meant that the {100} facets improve the photoreactivity of ZnIn2S4.
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