Nano‐Sized Quaternary CuGa2In3S8 as an Efficient Photocatalyst for Solar Hydrogen Production. Issue 11 (3rd September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kandiel, Tarek A.; Anjum, Dalaver H.; Takanabe, Kazuhiro
• Is Part Of: ChemSusChem. Volume 7:Issue 11(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 3112
• Page End: 3121
• Publication Date: 2014-09-03
• Subjects: Green chemistry -- Periodicals; Sustainable engineering -- Periodicals; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Chemical engineering -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201402525
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1864-5631

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The synthesis of quaternary metal sulfide (QMS) nanocrystals is challenging because of the difficulty to control their stoichiometry and phase structure. Herein, quaternary CuGa₂In₃S₈ photocatalysts with a primary particle size of ≈4 nm are synthesized using a facile hot‐injection method by fine‐tuning the sulfur source injection temperature and aging time. Characterization of the samples reveals that quaternary CuGa₂In₃S₈ nanocrystals exhibit n‐type semiconductor characteristics with a transition band gap of ≈1.8 eV. Their flatband potential is located at −0.56 V versus the standard hydrogen electrode at pH 6.0 and is shifted cathodically by 0.75 V in solutions with pH values greater than 12.0. Under optimized conditions, the 1.0 wt % Ru‐loaded CuGa₂In₃S₈ photocatalyst exhibits a photocatalytic H₂ evolution response up to 700 nm and an apparent quantum efficiency of (6.9±0.5) % at 560 nm. These results indicate clearly that QMS nanocrystals have great potential as nano‐photocatalysts for solar H₂ production.</p> </abstract>