Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Activity Research Articles

Nanoflower-like graphitic carbon nitride aerogel: Artful cyanuric acid-controlled synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity

The previously reported studies on cyanuric acid-assembly strategy usually ignores the promoting function of cyanuric acid in the production of g-C3N4, limiting the development of molecular assembly strategies. In this study, a cyanuric acid-controlled synthesis strategy involving the pre-assembly of cyanuric acid with melamine and subsequent one-step calcination was developed to produce a three-dimensional (3D) nanoflower-like graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) aerogel. Some cyanuric acid molecules underwent a polycondensation reaction with melamine during the pre-assembly process and finally polymerized into the g-C3N4 structure during subsequent calcination. Meanwhile, the remaining cyanuric acid molecules assembled with melamine via hydrogen-bond interactions and underwent incomplete decomposition during subsequent calcination, which not only promoted the production of 3D nanoflower-like aerogel structures, but also introduced the carbonyl (CO) and hydroxyl (–OH) groups onto the g-C3N4 surface, resulting in the successful generation of a 3D nanoflower-like oxygen-modified g-C3N4 aerogel. Moreover, the fabricated g-C3N4 aerogel exhibited a greatly enhanced H2 production rate (1573 μmol h−1 g−1), which is ∼ 6.6 times higher than that of bulk g-C3N4 (239 μmol h−1 g−1) owing to the synergistic promotion function of ultrathin nanoflower-like aerogel and oxygen modification structures. This strategy provides a theoretical basis for the development of highly efficient g-C3N4 photocatalysts via molecular assembly.

Boosting the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance by fabricating the NiO/Zn3In2S6 p-n heterojunction

Photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen evolution is viewed as a promising strategy to address the energyandenvironmentalissues. In this study, a series of NiO/Zn3In2S6 (NiO/ZIS6) p-n heterojunction photocatalysts have been prepared by the facile ultrasonic assisted deposition method. The as-obtained samples were systematically characterized employing various testing techniques. The photocatalytic performance of the p-n photocatalysts were evaluated by photocatalytic hydrogen production and the effect of different mass ratios of NiO to ZIS6 on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance was also explored. The results indicated that the 25% NiO/ZIS6 sample demonstrates optimal photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity with a hydrogen evoluton rate of 21.79 mmol g−1h−1, which is 7.65 times higher than that of ZIS6. The mechanism exploration proves that the formation of NiO/ZIS6 p-n heterojunction effectively promotes the separation and migration of photoinduced electrons and holes. Meanwhile, the recombination of charge carriers was restrained observably. This work may shed light on the design and preparation of novel p-n heterojunction photocatalysts with efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance and high stability.

Topochemical Fluorination of LaBaInO4 to LaBaInO3F2, Their Optical Characterization, and Photocatalytic Activities for Hydrogen Evolution.

We report on a nonoxidative topochemical route for the synthesis of a novel indate-based oxyfluoride, LaBaInO3F2, using a low-temperature reaction of Ruddlesden-Popper-type LaBaInO4 with polyvinylidene difluoride as a fluorinating agent. The reaction involves the replacement of oxide ions with fluoride ions as well as the insertion of fluoride ions into the interstitial sites. From the characterization via powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Rietveld analysis as well as automated electron diffraction tomography (ADT), it is deduced that the fluorination results in a symmetry lowering from I4/mmm (139) to monoclinic C2/c (15) with an expansion perpendicular to the perovskite layers and a strong tilting of the octahedra in the ab plane. Disorder of the anions on the apical and interstitial sites seems to be favored. The most stable configuration for the anion ordering is estimated based on an evaluation of bond distances from the ADT measurements via bond valence sums (BVSs). The observed disordering of the anions in the oxyfluoride results in changes in the optical properties and thus shows that the topochemical anion modification can present a viable route to alter the optical properties. Partial densities of states (PDOSs) obtained from ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal a bandgap modification upon fluoride-ion introduction which originates from the presence of the oxide anions on the interstitial sites. The photocatalytic performance of the oxide and oxyfluoride shows that both materials are photocatalytically active for hydrogen (H2) evolution.

Fabrication of Ti3C2/TiO2/SrTiO3 ternary heterojunction photocatalyst with efficient charge separation for enhanced hydrogen evolution

In this work, a ternary Ti3C2/TiO2/SrTiO3 composite with heterogeneous network structure was prepared by two-step in situ hydrothermal synthesis method, which mainly involved the growth of TiO2 nanosheets and fibrous SrTiO3 sequentially on the Ti3C2 substrate using the Ti source inherent in Ti3C2 as the reaction site. The Ti3C2/TiO2/SrTiO3 heterojunction exhibited enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. When the doping amount of SrTiO3 was 5 wt%, the hydrogen evolution rate of 5MTS under full solar irradiation reached 14322.6 μmol·g−1·h−1, which was 10.6 times the rate of the Ti3C2/TiO2 composite without modified SrTiO3. Meanwhile, the 5MTS composites showed good stability in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution cycle test. The enhanced activity and recyclability are mainly attributed to the strong light absorption ability, fast separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, and abundant catalytic active sites. In addition, the synthesis method utilizing an intrinsic Ti source also enhances the interfacial contact between Ti3C2, TiO2, and SrTiO3. This study provides an effective reference for the construction of perovskite-based or Ti3C2 co-catalyzed heterostructures and their application for the conversion of solar power to hydrogen energy.

Boosting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Activity by Accelerating Water Dissociation over Rh/Zn(OH)2 Catalyst in Alkaline Solution

Boosting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Activity by Accelerating Water Dissociation over Rh/Zn(OH)₂ Catalyst in Alkaline Solution

In-Situ construction of metal-free 1D/2D PCHO/PCN Z-scheme heterojunction towards enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution

In order to achieve the sustainable production of hydrogen fuel, the heterogeneous photocatalysts with inimitable structure are always desired for the high-efficiency and stable H2 production reaction from water splitting owing to the perfect structure–activity relationship. In this study, a novel metal-free one-dimensional/two-dimensional (1D/2D) heterojunction is constructed by a series of dissolution and diffusion, recrystallization and in-situ growth, and self-assembly process of 1-pyrene carboxaldehyde (PCHO) nanoribbons on the surface of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) nanosheets. The obtained 1D/2D heterojunction can realize fast carrier transport along 1D nanoribbons to prevent the recombination of photogenerated carriers at the interface. Furthermore, the intrinsic Z-scheme reaction mechanism within the heterostructure also effectively inhibits electron-hole recombination and isolates the reduction and oxidation sites of the photocatalytic reaction. As a result, the dramatically enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) activity is achieved over the 1%-PCHO/PCN sample, the optimal PHE rate of which is approximately 5.4 times that of pure PCN. This work provides the deep insight into the design and exploitation of metal-free heterojunction with unique structure applied in the photocatalytic energy conversion field.

Recent advances in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of AgIn5S8‐based photocatalysts

AbstractThe development of semiconductor photocatalysts is of great significance for the realization of efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE). AgIn5S8, as an emerging ternary metal sulfide photocatalyst, possesses the advantages of suitable bandgap (1.7–2.0 eV), environment‐friendly elements, and strong photostability, which holds great potential to realize high‐efficiency PHE. Although AgIn5S8‐based photocatalysts have achieved promising research progresses, their PHE performances are still far below the level of commercial applications. In this review, the basic semiconductor properties of AgIn5S8 and PHE mechanism are first introduced in detail. Subsequently, the development process and PHE activities of AgIn5S8‐based photocatalysts are systematically summarized, mainly including morphology control, Schottky junction formation through cocatalyst loading, and construction of different types of heterojunctions. Finally, the current issues and the possible solutions of AgIn5S8‐based photocatalysts in future studies are presented.

Highly Dispersed Ni-Pt Bimetallic Cocatalyst: The Synergetic Effect Yields Pt-Like Activity in Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

Achieving high photocatalytic activity with the lowest possible platinum (Pt) consumption is crucial for reducing the cost of Pt-based cocatalysts and enabling large-scale applications. Bimetallic Ni-Pt cocatalysts exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance and are considered one of the most promising photocatalysts capable of replacing pure Pt for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). However, the synergistic photocatalytic mechanism between bimetallic Ni-Pt cocatalysts needs to be further investigated. Herein, we deposit highly dispersed Ni-Pt bimetallic cocatalysts on the surface of TiO2 by radiolytic reduction. We study the dynamics of photogenerated charge carriers of the Ni-Pt-comodified TiO2 and propose their underlying electron transfer mechanisms, in which Pt acts as an electron trap, whereas Ni serves as an electron supplier. The synergistic effect is Ni/Pt ratio-dependent and can confer bimetallic Ni-Pt to pure Pt-like photocatalytic activity in HER. The Ni2-Pt1-comodified TiO2 is optimized to be the most cost-effective photocatalyst with robust stability, which exhibits about 40-fold higher performance than bare TiO2.

Organic-inorganic palladium porphyrin/NiFe-LDH hybrids with accelerated interfacial charge separation for efficient photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and hydrogen evolution

The organic–inorganic hybrid palladium porphyrin/NiFe-LDH (PdTCPP/NiFe-LDH) was synthesized with a molar ratio of Ni/Fe = 2:1 and a mass ratio of PdTCPP/NiFe-LDH = 1:20. The experimental results display that the introduction of PdTCPP enhanced the response to visible light and promoted the acceleration of interfacial charge separation. The photocatalytic activity of PdTCPP/NiFe-LDH was evaluated by tetracycline (TC) degradation and hydrogen evolution methods under visible light illumination. The removal efficiency of TC increased from 67.2% of original NiFe-LDH to 90.6% of PdTCPP/NiFe-LDH. Furthermore, PdTCPP/NiFe-LDH also exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (88.89 mol g-1h−1), which is 2.54 times that of the original NiFe-LDH (34.95 mol g-1h−1).

Effects of potassium ions and platinum cocatalysts on the photocatalytic performance of Poly(Heptazine Imides)

In the synthesis of highly crystalline carbon nitride, alkali metal halides are used as high-temperature solvents and structural guiding agents, but the effect of alkali metal ions on the catalytic activity of materials is still unclear. In addition, the shape and size of the cocatalyst also significantly affect the catalytic activity of the material. Therefore, we have carried out the density functional theory calculations to reveal the differences in the structure, electronic, and optical properties, as well as the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of one kind of crystalline carbon nitride called potassium poly(heptazine imide) (K-PHI) and its proton-exchanged counterpart (H-PHI) loaded with different sizes of platinum cocatalysts. The results show that potassium ions have the effect of aggregation electrons in K-PHI, and potassium ions have short-range induced dipole effect on nearby Pt atoms, resulting in slightly better photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity at these reaction sites. Additionally, Pt cocatalyst with larger load size has better photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity than small size. This work provides a theoretical basis for the rational design of high-performance metal cocatalysts and exploration of the functionality of alkali metal ions in carbon nitrides.

Tuning acceptor content and molecular structure in linear donor–acceptor polymeric photocatalysts for ultrahigh-performance visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution

A series of linear conjugated polymers were synthesized by tuning the dibenzothiophene-S,S-dioxide (DBTO) content and varying their molecular structures, and applied to study the light-driven hydrogen generation from water. We found that the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate (HER) under visible light irradiation improved upon increasing the content of DBTO segment in donor–acceptor (D–A) structural polymers. Benefiting from the D–A structure and the high content of active centers of DBTO group, the polymer DB-Th displayed an unprecedentedly high HER of 334.50 mmol g−1h−1 under visible-light-driven and cocatalyst-free conditions (one of the most effective bare polymer photocatalysts that has been reported), which is 1.38-fold as that of the 2D–A type polymer with the lower DBTO content and 255-fold as that of the D–D structural polymer without DBTO segment, demonstrating the significance of acceptor content in D–A structures for achieving ultrahigh photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity under visible light.

Competitive assembling strategy to construct carbon nitride homojunctions for boosting photocatalytic performance

Both morphology and composition have a great influence on the properties and functions of materials, however, how to rational modulate both of them to achieve their synergistic effects has been a long-standing expectation. Herein, we demonstrate a competitive assembling strategy for the construction of metal-free graphite carbon nitride (CN) homojunctions in which morphology and composition can be easily controlled simultaneously by only changing the ratio of assembly raw materials. These homojunctions are comprised of porous nanotubular S-doped CN (SCN) grafted with CN nanovesicles, which are derived from thermal polycondensation of melamine-thiocyanuric acid (M-T)/melamine-cyanuric acid (M-C) supramolecular hybrid blocks. This unique architecture and component engineering endows the novel SCN–CN homojunction with abundant active sites, enhanced visible trapping ability, and intimate interface contact. As a result, the synthesized SCN–CN homojunctions demonstrate high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution and pollutant degradation. This developed strategy opens up intriguing opportunities for the rational construction of intricate metal-free heterostructures with controllable architecture and interfacial contact for applications in energy-related fields.

Oxygen vacancy engineered electron structure of porous CexCo3−xO4 nanorods for wide spectrum photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Development of high-performance semiconductors for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is a promising solution to solve the current energy crisis. In this work, a porous and oxygen vacancy-enriched CexCo3−xO4-Vo nanorods (CexCo3−xO4-Vo NRs) with adjust electron structure were fabricated by Ce-doping for wide spectrum photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Because Ce doping regulates the Co3+/Co2+ atomic ratio of Co3O4 nanorods (Co3O4 NRs), resulting in a reduction of oxygen vacancy formation energy and confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements (XPS) studies. The formation of oxygen vacancy leads to a modification in the positions of conduction band and valence band positions of CexCo3−xO4-Vo NRs. The ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) spectra results indicate that the generation of oxygen vacancies leads to a more negative Fermi level in CexCo3−xO4-Vo NRs. This result directly results in an enhanced capacity for H+ reduction of CexCo3−xO4-Vo NRs. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that Ce0.15Co2.85O4-Vo NRs have faster electron transfer rates. In addition, the porous rod-like structure endows it abundant electron diffusion pathways, facilitates electrolyte infiltration, and establishes an ideal electrolyte/catalyst contact interface. Among them, Ce0.15Co2.85O4-Vo NRs have the best photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity (3912.8 μmol g−1), which were 2.2 times more than that of Co3O4 NRs, and an excellent stability also obtained. This work provides a new idea for elements doping Co3O4 NRs to in situ-induced oxygen vacancies for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Design of ultrathin CoAl-LDHs/ZnIn2S4 with strong interfacial bonding and rich oxygen vacancies for highly efficient hydrogen evolution activity

Designing a semiconductor-based heterostructure photocatalyst is very important way to enhance the hydrogen production activity. Here, a novel 2D/2D CoAl-LDHs/ZnIn2S4 S-scheme heterostructure with an ultrathin structure was synthesized by electrostatic attraction between CoAl-LDHs and ZnIn2S4 nanosheets. The presence of oxygen vacancies in the monolayer CoAl-LDHs nanosheet promotes the formation of Co-SX bonds, which serve as charge transfer channels at the interface of the CoAl-LDHs/ZnIn2S4 heterostructure. The ultrathin CoAl-LDHs/ZnIn2S4 exhibits broadened light absorption in the near-infrared range due to the occurrence of Co-SX chemical bonds. The CoAl-LDHs/ZnIn2S4 with a mass ratio of 1:2 demonstrated the highest photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity (1563.64 μmol g−1 h−1) under the simulated sunlight, which is 4.6 and 9.7 times than that of the ZnIn2S4 and CoAl-LDHs/ZnIn2S4(bulk), respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of ultrathin 2D/2D CoAl-LDHs/ZnIn2S4 should attributed to the shorter carriers path that benefit from the ultrathin structure and the quicker photogenerated charge transfer and the S-scheme migration pathway accelerated by the charge channel of Co-SX bonds. These new ideas should be inspiring for the design and construction of heterostructures for higher photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity.

Enhanced electron delocalization on pyrimidine doped graphitic carbon nitride for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The photocatalytic activity of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) depends to a large extent on its morphology and electronic band structure. In order to design a photocatalyst with suitable structural property and high efficiency of photo-generated carrier separation, herein, the pyrimidine doped g-C3N4 is prepared by a conventional one-pot copolymerization of urea and 2,4,6-Triaminopyrimidine (TAP). Such TAP organic molecule can not only regulate the electronic structure of conjugated system and distort heptazine units, but also affect the polymerization of precursor urea. As expected, the optimized photocatalyst shows a high photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of 453 μmol·h−1 under visible light irradiation, which is 4.41 times over that of pure g-C3N4. Such enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to the introduction of pyrimidine ring which facilitates the electrons delocalization in the in-plane structure, enlarges the specific surface area, and broadens the visible light absorption range.

Synthesis of nitrogen vacancy-riched ultrathin polymeric carbon nitride nanosheets via ethanol-ethylene glycol ultrasonic exfoliation and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity

Understanding the effects of active sites on photocatalyst surface is highly crucial in photocatalytic water-splitting hydrogen evolution. Herein, an exfoliated carbon nitride nanosheet (CNN) in two atomic layers with surface nitrogen vacancies (VNs) was used to investigate the correlation between VNs and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. The few-layered CNNs were prepared via the exfoliation of block polymerized carbon nitride (PCN) with melon as the structural unit. The exfoliation was performed through an ultrasonication method assisted with ethanol and ethylene glycol mixture as the intercalation reagent. The results revealed that the formation of VNs on the peeled CNNs, accompanied with the increased content of hydroxyl. The effects of VNs on the electronic property of CNN and the water molecule adsorption are verified by the experimental results and DFT simulations. More interestingly, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of CNN was 2.14 times higher than that of PCN, which can be due to the successful introduction of VNs. This work may offer a novel insight into the effects of VNs of carbon nitride on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Heterojunction architecture of Ce2S3 nanocubes with ZnxCd1-xS photocatalyst enables efficient hydrogen evolution

Heterojunction coupling with narrow bandgap semiconductor can effectively promote light absorption, inhibits photoinduced carrier recombination and enhances redox performance. Herein, a novel Ce2S3 nanocube was synthesized via a high-temperature sulfating method, then ZnxCd1-xS (ZCS) was grown on Ce2S3 cube to form a tight junction for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) activity. The experimental results confirm that this novel composite vastly boosts the redox performance due to superior visible light absorbance, narrow bandgap and fast charge carrier separation via a Z-scheme mechanism. Consequently, the optimized Ce2S3/ZCS composite presents the best PHE rate of 35.35 mmol h−1 g−1 without an obvious reduction in efficiency for cycling experiments, which has a 4.8-fold increase over Pt/ZCS. This strategy proposes a novel method for optimizing ZCS-based photocatalysis by introducing Ce2S3 component to improve the property of PHE.

Facile construction of CuO/g-C3N4 heterojunctions with promoted photocatalytic hydrogen generation behaviors

The core issue of photocatalytic H2 generation from water decomposition is to explore high activity, ultra stability and environment-friendly photocatalytic materials. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4, GCN) is preferred by global scientists for the diversified superiorities, such as the characteristic of flake graphite-phase fabric, competitive cost, non-poisonous, ideal bandgap (∼2.7 eV) and decent stability. Nevertheless, by reason of the deficiencies in small specific surface area and rapid photo-excited charge pairs recombination, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of g-C3N4 is undesirable and it cannot be put into large-scale industrial production for these reasons. Construction of heterojunctions to boost electrons/holes (e-/h+) segregation efficiency is identified as a resultful tactic to promote the activity of g-C3N4. In current work, CuO/g-C3N4 with disparate CuO/g-C3N4 mole ratio (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%) were prepared through an impregnating strategy and investigated via various methods. Photocatalytic properties of CuO/g-C3N4 (CuO/CN) photocatalysts exert superior H2 evolution rate and consistency under solar light illumination. The optimal H2 evolution activity with non-cocatalyst is 130.1 µmol·g−1·h−1 upon the 1.5% CuO/CN, realizing 46.1 folds as fast as that of GCN (2.8 µmol·g−1·h−1). Coupling with CuO is confirmed to narrow bandgap of the samples, thus enhancing the light absorptivity and utilization. Besides, photo-stimulated e-/h+ pairs have acquired more efficient separation after formation of CuO/g-C3N4 heterojunctions. The method for preparation of S-scheme CuO/g-C3N4 heterojunction catalysts furnishes a perception of boosting the photocatalytic H2 generation rate through coupling with transition metal oxides.

Optimizing intrinsic cocatalyst activity and light absorption efficiency for efficient hydrogen evolution of 1D/2D ReS2-CdS photocatalysts via control of ReS2 nanosheet layer growth

The visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution is extremely important, but the poor charge transfer capability, a sluggish evolution rate of hydrogen, and severe photo-corrosion make photocatalytic hydrogen evolution impractical. In this study, we present 1D/2D ReS2-CdS hybrid nanorods for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, comprised of a ReS2 nanosheet layer grown on CdS nanorods. We found that precise control of the contents of the ReS2 nanosheet layer allows for manipulating the electronic structure of Re in the ReS2-CdS hybrid nanorods. The ReS2-CdS hybrid nanorods with optimal ReS2 nanosheet layer content dramatically improve photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. Notably, photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity (64.93 mmol g−1 h−1) of ReS2-CdS hybrid nanorods with ReS2 nanosheet layers (Re/Cd atomic ratio of 0.051) is approximately 136 times higher than that of pure CdS nanorods under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, intimated coupling of the ReS2 nanosheet layer with CdS nanorods reduced the surface trap-site of the CdS nanorods, resulting in enhanced photocatalytic stability. The detailed optical and electrical investigations demonstrate that the optimal ReS2 nanosheet layer contents in the ReS2-CdS hybrid nanorods can provide improved charge transfer capability, catalytic activity, and light absorption efficiency. This study sheds light on the development of photocatalysts for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Synthesis of oriented J type ZnIn2S4@CdIn2S4 heterojunction by controllable cation exchange for enhancing photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Construction of semiconductor heterojunctions which promote the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers is an effective strategy for improving photocatalytic reaction efficiency. Based on the anisotropic electrical conductivity of layered ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) photocatalyst, an efficient heterojunction should be constructed along the layer plane of ZIS, that is, a J type heterojunction. However, achieving controllable synthesis of the oriented heterojunction of ZIS faces challenges. Herein, we develop a facile, cost-effective and spatially-selective cation exchange synthesis approach to construct J type ZnIn2S4@CdIn2S4 (J-ZIS@CIS) heterojunction using a flower-like hexagonal ZIS as the parent material. The developed synthesis approach can also control crystal structure of the heterojunction component CIS. This work presents a facile and controllable synthesis strategy to construct oriented anisotropic heterojunctions that are otherwise inaccessible. The as-prepared J-ZIS@CIS heterojunction displays a greatly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity with a rate of 183 μmol h−1, 2.77 times higher than that of pristine ZIS. Furthermore, the possible photocatalytic reaction mechanism is presented for the heterojunction.