Heterojunction Photocatalyst Research Articles

Epitaxial growth of Bi4Ti3O12-BiPO4 Z-scheme heterojunction to promote carrier transfer for photocatalytic oxidation of NO

The lack of compactness in heterojunction interfaces and poor charge separation is a great challenge in developing high-efficiency heterojunction photocatalysts. Herein, a novel Bi4Ti3O12-BiPO4 heterojunction was successfully prepared for the first time by epitaxial growth of BiPO4 on the surface of Bi4Ti3O12 nanosheets. The optimized Bi4Ti3O12-BiPO4-0.5 increased the NO oxidation efficiency to 73.05%, surpassing pure Bi4Ti3O12 (63.45%) and BiPO4 (8.35%). Experiments and theoretical calculations indicated that the closely contacted heterointerface between BTO and BPO promoted the generation of the built-in electric field, which led to the formation of the Z- scheme transfer pathway for the photogenerated carriers. Therefore, the separation of photogenerated carriers was facilitated while retaining high redox potential, generating more ·O2– and ·OH to participate in NO oxidation. Furthermore, the adsorption of NO and O2 was enhanced by introducing BiPO4, further improving the photocatalytic NO oxidation performance. This work emphasizes the critical role of heterointerface in accelerating charge transfer, providing a basis for the design and construction of tightly contacted heterojunction photocatalysts.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity and antibacterial potential of a novel ternary ZnO-Ag2MoO4-AgI heterojunction photocatalyst

The construction of heterojunctions is a recognized strategy for enhancing photogenerated carrier separation. This research introduces a novel ZnO-Ag2MoO4-AgI photocatalyst with a double Z-type heterojunction, made using a straightforward precipitation technique. The precise position of energy levels endowed the ternary photocatalyst with the ability of directional electron flow, while the Z-type structure exhibits strong redox capabilities and facilitates the effective separation of photogenerated charge carriers. The structural characteristics, the photocatalytic activities, the antibacterial properties, and the cytotoxicity of the catalysts were evaluated. The results demonstrate that the catalytic ability of ternary composites work synergistically, surpassing the individual and binary photocatalysts. Notably, the ternary composites with 30 % AgI content exhibit the highest catalytic activity, achieving complete degradation of Rhodamine B in 30 minutes, and up to 71.2 % degradation of Norfloxacin in 60 minutes. Furthermore, more than 99.998 % of Staphylococcus aureus, and 100 % of Escherichia coli were eliminated within 40 minutes, while Human colorectal adenocarcinoma epithelial cells mortality reached 91.98 % at a dose of 250 μg/mL. Our study underscores the potential of this strategy for photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants, and as an antibacterial agent, providing innovative insights into the design of ZnO-based heterostructure photocatalysts.

Construction of polarized 2D/2D g-C3N4/BiOCl nanosheet dual piezoelectric Z-scheme heterojunction and its efficient charge separation mechanism

A multi-electric field synergistic strategy based on heterojunction construction and polarization engineering enhances carrier separation and migration, achieving excellent piezoelectric photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4 based materials. Here, through the in-situ growth of BiOCl nanosheets (BOCs) on g-C3N4 nanosheets (GCNs), a 2D/2D Z-scheme GCNs/BOCs heterojunction was successfully fabricated, and its outstanding piezo-photocatalytic property was demonstrated. Compared to individual BOCs and GCNs, the high degradation rate (97.64 %) of rhodamine B (RhB) can be achieved over the optimal composite (GCNs/BOCs-50) after 50 min irradiation. Inspiringly, the polarized GCNs/BOCs-50 composite degraded RhB almost completely within 30 min under the simultaneous light irradiation and ultrasound, which reduced the photocatalytic time by 40 %, and its k reached 0.1410 min−1 (12.59 and 2.48 times that of BOCs and GCNs). This work is of great significance for designing a novel heterojunction photocatalysts using polarized ferroelectric materials.

Controllable chemical synthesis of core-shell NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+@Bi4O5I2/Bi5O7I Z-scheme heterojunction for efficient tetracycline hydrochloride photodegradation

Constructing heterojunction photocatalysts that can make additional utilization of near-infrared (NIR) light has been a global scientific problem and has gained widespread research interest. Upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) collaborate with semiconductors to construct UCNPs-based photocatalysts that are used to improve solar energy utilization. In this work, the as-prepared UCNPs-based photocatalysts consisting of NaGdF4:Yb3+/Er3+ (NGFYE) and bismuth oxyiodide (BOI) are synthesized by chemical epitaxial growth method and in-situ calcination process. The crystalline phase, morphology, optical and electrochemical properties of NGFYE@BOI samples are investigated in detail. Besides, Bi4O5I2/Bi5O7I Z-type heterojunction is confirmed by EPR test. Moreover, the photocatalytic elimination of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and its photocatalytic mechanism by NGFYE@BOI samples are explored. This work may provide a promising idea for the efficient and controlled synthesis of UCNPs-based photocatalysts, which will contribute to the future utilization of solar energy.

A S-scheme 0D/2D heterojunction formed by decorating Cd0.5Zn0.5S nanoparticles on Cu2MoS4 plates for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Rationally designing a Step-scheme (S-scheme) hetero-structured photocatalyst with high redox capability and separation efficiency of photoinduced carriers is considered as an attractive approach to address the shortcomings of single component and traditional hetero-structured photocatalyst. Herein, enlightened by the predictions of density functional theory (DFT), a unique S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully fabricated by incorporating zero-dimensional (0D) Cd0.5Zn0.5S (CZS) on two-dimensional (2D) lamellar Cu2MoS4 (CMS) plates via a facile coprecipitation method, which substantially enhances the photocatalytic activity for hydrogen (H2) generation. CZS nanoparticles deposited on the surface of CMS nanoplates play a crucial role in creating highly intimate heterojunction interfaces and abundant exposed reaction sites, laying the foundation for improved photocatalytic performance. Furthermore, the significant difference in Fermi levels and band structures between CZS and CMS result in the formation of the internal electric field (IEF) and energy band bending at the interface of the heterojunction. This S-scheme charge transfer path enables 0D/2D CZS/CMS heterojunction possesses an exceptional capacity to maintain the robust redox potential and boosts the separation efficiency of light-induced carriers, as verified by DFT calculations and energy band structure analyses. As expected, the optimal heterojunction exhibits a satisfactory H2 generation rate of 13.1 mmol·g-1·h−1, which is nearly 7.7-fold higher than that of individual CZS. This study is expected to inspire the design of morphology-controlled hetero-structured photocatalyst with S-scheme charge transfer route for photocatalytic H2 generation.

Visible light responsive SiO2/g-C3N4/BiOBr/Bi heterojunction photocatalyst for degradation of rhodamine B

For the purpose of alleviating the negative influence of rhodamine B (RhB) abuse on the environment, it is imperative to design a green and efficient photocatalyst for tackling organic dye-contaminated wastewater. Herein, a novel SiO2/g-C3N4/BiOBr/Bi (denoted as Si/CN/BiOB/Bi) photocatalyst with enhanced photodegradation activity has been successfully created. The influence of variable parameters including Bi doping amount, initial concentration of RhB, photocatalyst dosage, and reaction temperature on the photocatalytic performance of Si/CN/BiOB/Bi under visible light illumination are analyzed in detail. Results indicated that the degradation rate constant of RhB over Si/CN/BiOB/Bi-0.5 is 25.1, 18.1, and 2.2 times higher than that of CN, Si/CN, and Si/CN/BiOB, respectively. The Si/CN/BiOB/Bi-0.5 photocatalyst displayed high photocatalytic performance after 5 recycled runs. The improved photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the novel morphology as well as the excellent synergetic effects of Si/CN, BiOBr, and Bi, which enables the catalysts to accelerate the separation of photogenerated carriers. In brief, a new Si/CN/BiOB/Bi photocatalyst has a great application perspective for the purification of RhB wastewater.

Construction of metal-free dual S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts by rational band alignment for efficient hydrogen evolution

Designing ternary heterojunction photocatalysts is regarded as a compelling approach to attain exceptional photocatalytic activity. However, they always suffer from poor interfacial contact and unclear charge transfer pathways. Herein, a metal-free dual S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst comprised of black phosphorus (BP), carbon nitride (CN), violet phosphorus (VP) was designed by electrostatic self-assembly. The non-metallic feature of the BPCNVP heterostructure facilitates to form strong interfacial contact by coordinating active P sites in VP and BP with N atoms in CN. Notably, a definite dual S-scheme heterojunction configuration is achieved by rational band alignment of VP and BP, respectively, which significantly boosts the driving force for charge separation. The BPCNVP heterostructure exhibited a hydrogen evolution rate of 1669μmol h-1g−1 with excellent stability, surpassing most reported metal-free photocatalysts. This work demonstrates that the design of dual S-scheme heterojunction by metal-free materials provides valuable insights into the intricate reaction mechanism of ternary heterojunction photocatalysts.

Chemical bath assisted construction of CuO/BiVO4 p-n heterojunction photocatalyst for visible light driven rapid removal of MB and Cr(VI)

Nowadays, uncontrolled discharge of industrial wastes containing organic dyes, drugs, as well as heavy metals into the water bodies presents serious pollution of thereby posing threat to the environment. Hence, there is a need to adopt a targeted approach to tackle the matter of water pollution. A method photocatalytic elimination of pollutants using semiconducting materials is a captivating approach. In this study, we report simple chemical bath assisted synthesis of CuO/BiVO4 (CuBi) p-n heterojunction photocatalyst for effective photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. Physico-chemical characteristics of the CuBi composite and its individual counterparts were assessed by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, XPS and UV–visible spectrophotometry. The CuO mico-planks, BiVO4 nanodots and CuBi composite were utilized for the photocatalytic breakdown of MB dye and Cr(VI) reduction. The CuBi p-n heterojunction demonstrated superior efficiency in degrading MB (99 % within 120 minutes) and reducing Cr (VI) (94 % within 45 minutes) when compared with its bare counterparts. Furthermore, repeating recycle studies for MB degradation and Cr(VI) reduction showed minimal loss in performance even after consecutive five cycles on the trot verified the strong photo-stability and reusability of our CuBi composite.

Magnetic-field-induced activation of S-scheme heterojunction with core–shell structure for boosted photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H2 production

Photocatalytic H2 production through water splitting using semiconductor photocatalysts offers an economical and efficient approach to generate H2 with minimal environmental pollution to alleviate the energy crisis. Maximizing the utilization of the solar spectrum and essentially accelerating the separation and transfer of photo-generated electrons are crucial for enhancing the activity of the photocatalytic H2 production systems. Herein, Mn3O4@ZnIn2S4 (MO@ZIS) core–shell heterojunction photocatalysts were meticulously designed using a convenient water bath method to obtain a system that can achieve highly efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H2 production induced by a magnetic field (MF). Remarkably, the optimal photocatalytic H2 production rate up to 33.29 mmol h−1 g−1 under the effect of applied MF with an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 19.93 % at 420 nm were obtained over the optimal MO@ZIS-30 photocatalyst. The substantial enhancement of the photocatalytic activity in the MO@ZIS system was attributed to the synergy of magneto-thermal effect induced by the magnetic field and the strong photo-thermal effect exhibited by MO, which significantly increases the heterojunction surface temperature of the photocatalyst and promotes the separation and transfer of photo-induced electron hole pairs, thus accelerating the surface hydrogen evolution dynamics. Furthermore, the S-scheme heterojunction formed between MO and ZIS in MO@ZIS core–shell heterojunction optimizes the carrier transfer path. This study presents an effective approach for the effective utilization of the multi-field synergistic enhancement of photocatalytic activity.

Enhancing Photocatalytic Activity for Solar‐to‐Fuel Conversion: A Study on S‐Scheme AgInS2/CeVO4@Biocharx Heterojunctions

AbstractRare earth vanadates are promising for solar‐to‐fuel conversions, yet their photocatalytic efficiency is limited by the substantial recombination of photo‐generated carriers. Constructing heterojunctions is recognized as an effective approach to improving charge carrier separation in vanadates. Nonetheless, inefficient charge transfer often results from the poor quality of interfaces and non‐directional charge transfer within these heterojunctions. Herein, an S‐scheme AgInS2/CeVO4@Biocharx (AIS/CV@Cx) heterojunction photocatalyst is designed and synthesized through a straightforward freeze‐drying and calcination three‐step process, aimed at photocatalytic co‐production of xylonic acid and carbon monoxide (CO) from xylose. The AIS/CV@C2 heterojunction achieves an optimal yield of 67.74% for xylonic acid and a CO release of 29.76 µmol from xylose. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of the AIS/CV@C2 heterojunction is attributed to three key factors: I) the high‐quality interface and intimate contact within the AIS/CV@C2 heterojunction significantly reduce undesirable carriers recombination, II) the staggered band structures and directed carriers transfer in the AIS/CV@C2 heterojunction notably improve spatial carriers separation/migration, and III) the incorporation of biochar boosts the conductivity of the AIS/CV@C2 heterojunction. This work presents a straightforward yet effective method for fabricating vanadate heterojunctions, highlighting the importance of quality interfacial contact and directed charge transfer in amplifying photocatalytic performance.

Exploring the in‐situ Development of A 1 D/2 D Gadolinium Iron Oxide/Tungsten Disulfide Photocatalyst to Improve Tetracycline Degradation Mediated by Visible Light

AbstractIn the field of photocatalysis, heterojunction photocatalysts have garnered a lot of attention due to their high‐efficiency interfacial charge‐transfer property and their nanoarchitecture. Herein, GdFeO3/WS2 is successfully synthesized by the in‐situ growth method and holds significant catalytic properties and efficient degradation for tetracycline. Using WS2 as a co‐catalyst could reduce e‐ and h+ recombination, improving GdFeO3’s photocatalytic performance. The GdFeO3/WS2 possesses a bandgap of 1.9 eV, 178.9 m2 g−1 specific surface area, 0.2 nm pore size, and a lifespan of 6 ns. The optimal GdFeO3/WS2 photocatalyst exhibits a maximum removal of 96.2 % at a tetracycline concentration of 10 mg/L, a pH of 3, and 40 mg of photocatalyst in an irradiation time of 90 min. Tetracycline has a higher photocatalytic efficiency in visible light (96.2 %) than in sunlight (72.6 %). Trapping tests revealed that the major reactive species for tetracycline removal in an aqueous solution are ⋅⋅OH, and ⋅⋅O2‐. The recycle experiment shows no deactivation of the GdFeO3/WS2 photocatalyst after 5 recycles. This study sheds light on the rational design of the GdFeO3/WS2 photocatalyst as a potential material for treating wastewater.

Facile Synthesis of Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Heterojunctions of Glycolated Conjugated Polymer-TiO2-X for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

The utilization of the organic-inorganic hybrid photocatalysts for water splitting has gained significant attention due to their ability to combine the advantages of both materials and generate synergistic effects. However, they are still far from practical application due to the limited understanding of the interactions between these two components and the complexity of their preparation process. Herein, a facial approach by combining a glycolated conjugated polymer with a TiO2-X mesoporous sphere to prepare high-efficiency hybrid photocatalysts is presented. The functionalization of conjugated polymers with hydrophilic oligo (ethylene glycol) side chains can not only facilitate the dispersion of conjugated polymers in water but also promote the interaction with TiO2-X forming stable heterojunction nanoparticles. An apparent quantum yield of 53.3% at 365nm and a hydrogen evolution rate of 35.7mmol h-1 g-1 is achieved by the photocatalyst in the presence of Pt co-catalyst. Advanced photophysical studies based on femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and in situ, XPS analyses reveal the charge transfer mechanism at type II heterojunction interfaces. This work shows the promising prospect of glycolated polymers in the construction of hybrid heterojunctions for photocatalytic hydrogen production and offers a deep understanding of high photocatalytic performance by such heterojunction photocatalysts.

Directional Charge Pumping from Photoactive P-doped CdS to Catalytic Active Ni2P via Funneled Bandgap and Bridged Interface for Greatly Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Evolution.

Loading cocatalysts onto semiconductors is one of the most popular strategies to inhibit charge recombination, but the efficiency is generally hindered by the localized built-in electric field and the weakly connected interface. Here, this work designs and synthesizes a 1D P-doped CdS nanowire/Ni2P heterojunction with gradient doped P to address the challenges. In the composite, the gradient P doping not only creates a funneled bandgap structure with a built-in electric field oriented from the bulk of P-CdS to the surface, but also facilitates the formation of a tightly connected interface using the co-shared P element. Consequently, the photogenerated charge carriers are enabled to be pumped from inside to surface of the P-CdS and then smoothly across the interface to the Ni2P. The as-obtained P-CdS/Ni2P displays high visible-light-driven H2 evolution rate of ≈8265µmol g-1 h-1, which is 336 times and 120 times as that of CdS and P-CdS, respectively. This work is anticipated to inspire more research attention for designing new gradient-doped semiconductor/cocatalyst heterojunction photocatalysts with bridged interface for efficient solar energy conversion.

Enhanced degradation of rhodamine B under visible light by BiOCl@COF-1n-n type heterojunction photocatalysts

A novel n-n type heterojunction BiOCl@COF-1 was synthesized by a facile one-step solvothermal method and used for the degradation of rhodamine B(RhB) in water. The structure, morphology, composition, optical and electrochemical properties of the prepared composites were characterized through various techniques. Compared with the pure BiOCl, the BiOCl@COF-1 composite demonstrated significantly enhanced efficiency and durability for degradation of RhB under visible light. The observed enhancement in photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the n-n type heterojunction, which notably improve the visible light absorption efficiency, and the efficient charge separation. Additionally, the possible photodegradation mechanism of RhB was explores based on the characterization results. This work not only offers a promising strategy for the purification of organic wastewater, but also provides an effective approach for the construction of other COF-based n-n type heterojunction.

ZnMoO4/g-C3N4 S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst: synthesis, structural, optical, and its photocatalytic properties

ZnMoO4/g-C3N4 S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst: synthesis, structural, optical, and its photocatalytic properties

Full solar-spectrum available Z-scheme MOF-on-MOF heterostructure for highly efficient photocatalytic VSCs removal

The construction of efficient photocatalysts with strong response to sunlight is crucial for clean and sustainable pollutant degradation and environmental remediation. Herein, a novel MOF-on-MOF structural photocatalyst named HKU@MIL with Z-scheme heterojunction was successfully designed. The light response of the composites effectively extends to the whole solar spectrum through a simple activation process, addressing the issue of the low utilization of sunlight by photocatalysts. The photocatalytic degradation rate of methyl mercaptan by activated HKU@MIL is 2.2, 3.2, and 1.8 times higher than that of NH2-MIL-125, HKUST-1, and HKU/MIL-5 (physical mixtures), respectively. Under simulated sunlight irradiation, the rate constant increases to 0.507 min−1, which is 1.4 times higher than that under visible light. Additionally, the composites exhibit good photocatalytic performance when irradiated with near-infrared light alone. The heterojunction type of the photocatalyst was investigated according to in-depth analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Additionally, the interfacial charge transmission mode of the composites and the probable pathways for methyl mercaptan degradation were explored through band structure analysis, radical quenching tests and electron spin resonance analysis. The improved photocatalytic performance of activated HKU@MIL can be attributed to the full solar spectral response and the successful creation of the Z-scheme electron migration channel, which serves to reinforces the electron pump effect. It achieves this by improving the transmission of photogenerated carriers and ensuring the strongest redox potential. This work presents a new perspective on enhancing the utilization of sunlight by photocatalysts and improving the photocatalytic performance of heterojunction photocatalysts used in environmental remediation.

FeCo-LDH/g-C3N4 S-scheme photocatalyst with visible light response and enhanced photocatalytic performance

FeCo-LDH/g-C3N4 S-type heterojunction photocatalysts were successfully prepared by thermal polymerization and electrostatic self-assembly methods. The structure, morphology, light absorption and photoelectrochemical properties of the prepared samples were characterized. The photocatalytic properties of the photocatalysts were evaluated by the degradation of tetracycline (TC) and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water splitting under visible light irradiation. The experimental results showed that the photocatalytic properties of FeCo-LDH/g-C3N4 nanocomposites were superior to those of pristine g-C3N4. In addition, when the mass ratio of FeCo-LDH to g-C3N4 was 7:100, the photocatalytic performance of the as-prepared FeCo-LDH(7 %)/g-C3N4 is the optimal. The TC degradation rate of FeCo-LDH(7 %)/g-C3N4 reached 78.0 % within 120 min, which was 2.63 times of that of pure g-C3N4. And the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of FeCo-LDH(7 %)/g-C3N4 was 107.28 μmol for 4 h, which was 12.68 times that of g-C3N4. The results showed that the as-prepared FeCo-LDH/g-C3N4 nanocomposite photocatalysts have excellent performance in the degradation of TC and the photocatalytic H2 evolution. Meanwhile, the EPR and trapping experiments revealed that OH and O2− played a main role in the photocatalytic TC degradation. The mechanism of photocatalytic TC degradation and hydrogen production of FeCo-LDH/g-C3N4 nanocomposite photocatalysts was also discussed.

Broad Light Absorption and Multichannel Charge Transfer Mediated by Topological Surface State in CdS/ZnS/Bi2Se3 Nanotubes for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

AbstractSemiconductor heterojunctions have garnered extensive interest in photocatalytic hydrogen generation, yet the limited light absorption and charge transfer efficiencies still restrict the photocatalytic performance. The topological insulator has unique surface states and high‐mobility electrons, demonstrating the significant potential for enhancing photocatalysis. Herein, a ternary photocatalyst based on a topological insulator, in which CdS and ZnS nanoparticles are grown on Bi2Se3 nanotube, is prepared for efficient photocatalysis driven by topological surface state for the first time. Under simulated solar light irradiation, the CdS/ZnS/Bi2Se3 nanotubes display a robust photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 7.13 mmol h−1 g−1, which is 69.2 times of CdS and comparable to many CdS‐based photocatalysts. The unique hollow structure, topological surface state of Bi2Se3, and cooperative bandgap excitations of the three components endow the hybrids with wide light response to harvest solar energy. Meanwhile, the multichannel charge transfer facilitated by topological surface state and internal electric fields within the hybrids effectively suppresses the recombination of the photogenerated charge carriers. This mechanism maintains a high concentration of stable electrons on Bi2Se3, resulting in highly efficient hydrogen production. This work provides a new inspiration for designing heterojunction photocatalysts based on topological insulators for high‐efficiency solar‐driven energy conversion.

Ultrafast and highly‐selective upcycling of plastic polylactic acid waste driven by ZnInFe‐mixed metal oxide

AbstractChemical upcycling of waste plastics represents an appealing way to achieve a circular economy and mitigate environmental problems but remains a huge challenge. Herein, we report a heterojunction photocatalyst (ZnInFe‐mixed metal oxide, denoted as ZnInFe‐MMO) for the rapid valorization of polylactic acid (PLA) via a developed alkali‐assisted photocatalysis system. The ZnInFe‐MMO featured with a double Z‐Scheme structure is favorable for light harvesting and electron‐hole separation. Moreover, the operando characterizations and theoretical simulations confirm that the ZnInFe‐MMO affords a remarkably decreased barrier for the rate‐determining step (formation of *LA intermediate) while inhibiting the CC breakage in the side reaction. As a result, the ZnInFe‐MMO attains a ~100% conversion and ~99% selectivity toward sodium lactate (NaLA), which is preponderant to the state‐of‐the‐art photocatalysts. In addition, such an effective route is also demonstrated in various real‐world PLA waste.

Directional Electron Transfer in CuInS2/Mo2S3 S-Scheme Heterojunctions for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production.

The photocatalytic conversion of solar energy to hydrogen is a promising pathway toward clean fuel production, yet it requires advancement to meet industrial-scale demands. This study demonstrates that the interface engineering of heterojunctions is a viable strategy to enhance the photocatalytic performance of CuInS2/Mo2S3. Specifically, CuInS2 nanoparticles are incorporated into Mo2S3 nanospheres via a wet impregnation technique to form an S-scheme heterojunction. This configuration facilitates directional electron transfer, optimizing electron utilization and fostering efficient photocatalytic processes. The presence of an S-scheme heterojunction in CuInS2/Mo2S3 is corroborated by in situ irradiation X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory analyses, which confirm the directional movement of electrons at the interface of heterojunction. Comprehensive characterization of the heterojunction photocatalyst, including phase, structural, and photoelectric property assessments, reveals a significant specific surface area and light absorption capability. These attributes augment the number of active sites available in CuInS2/Mo2S3 for proton reduction reactions. This study offers a pragmatic approach for designing metal sulfide-based photocatalysts via strategic interface engineering, potentially advancing the field toward sustainable hydrogen production.