Fabrication of ZnIn2S4–g-C3N4 sheet-on-sheet nanocomposites for efficient visible-light photocatalytic H2-evolution and degradation of organic pollutants. Issue 119 (17th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Hong; Jin, Zhitong; Xu, Zhengzheng; Zhang, Zhe; Ao, Dan
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 5:Issue 119(2015)
• Page Start: 97951
• Page End: 97961
• Publication Date: 2015-11-17
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra17028a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Novel ZnIn2 S4 –g-C3 N4 sheet-on-sheet nanocomposites with excellent photocatalytic activities have been synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method. Abstract : ZnIn2 S4 –g-C3 N4 sheet-on-sheet nanocomposites with different g-C3 N4 contents were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method and characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microcopy (HRTEM), N2 adsorption–desorption, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical (PEC) experiments. The photocatalytic activities of these samples were evaluated by the photocatalytic H2 -production and degradation of organic pollutants (methyl orange and phenol) under visible-light illumination ( λ > 420 nm). The results showed that the ZnIn2 S4 –g-C3 N4 composite photocatalysts displayed higher photocatalytic activity than the pristine g-C3 N4 and ZnIn2 S4 both for H2 -evolution and degradation of pollutants. The optimal g-C3 N4 content was determined to be 40 wt%, and the corresponding H2 -production rate was 953.5 μmol h −1 g −1, which was about 1.91 times higher than that of pure ZnIn2 S4 . The enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnIn2 S4 –g-C3 N4 composites should be attributed to the well-matched band structure and intimate contact interfaces between ZnIn2 S4 and g-C3 N4, which led to the effective transfer and separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. Moreover, the ZnIn2 S4 –g-C3 N4 composites showed excellent stability during the photocatalytic reactions under visible light. A possible mechanism of the enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZnIn2 S4 –g-C3 N4 composites was proposed and supported by the PL and PEC results.