Mo‐Modified ZnIn₂S₄@NiTiO₃ S‐Scheme Heterojunction with Enhanced Interfacial Electric Field for Efficient Visible‐Light‐Driven Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

Designing and developing visible-light-responsive materials for solar to chemical energy is an efficient and promising approach to green and sustainable carbon-neutral energy systems. Herein, a facile in situ growth hydrothermal strategy using Mo-modified ZnIn 2 S 4 (Mo-ZIS) nanosheets coupled with NiTiO 3 (NTO) microrods to synthesize multifunctional Mo-modified ZIS wrapped NTO microrods (Mo-ZIS@NTO) photocatalyst with enhanced interfacial electric field (IEF) effect and typical S-scheme heterojunction is reported. Mo-ZIS@NTO catalyst possesses wide-spectrum light absorption properties, excellent visible light-to-thermal energy effect, electron mobility, charges transfer, and strong IEF and exhibits excellent solar-to-chemical energy conversion for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Notably, the engineered Mo 1.4 -ZIS@NTO catalyst exhibits superior performance with H 2 evolution rate of up to 14.06 mmol g −1 h − 1 and the apparent quantum efficiency of 44.1% at 420 nm. The scientific explorations provide an in-depth understanding of microstructure, S-scheme heterojunction, enhanced IEF, Mo-dopant facilitation effect. Moreover, the theoretical simulations verify the critical role of Mo element in promoting the adsorption and activation of H 2 O molecules, modulating the H adsorption behavior on active S sites, and thus accelerating the overall catalytic efficiency. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution mechanism via S-scheme heterojunction with adjustable IEF regulation over Mo 1.4 -ZIS@NTO is also demonstrated.

A bifunctional hierarchical core–shell Mo2C@ZnIn2S4 Schottky junction for efficient photocatalytic H2-evolution integrated with valuable furfural production

“…65-2023), respectively. 37 For pristine MC, strong characteristic peaks located at 2θ values of 34.6°, 38.1°, 39.6°, 52.3°, and 61.8°can be respectively assigned to the (100), ( 002), ( 101), (102), and (110) planes of hexagonal-phased Mo 2 C (JCPDS No. 35-0787) with high crystal-linity.…”

Graphdiyne/Ag2Mo2O7 S‐Scheme Heterojunction for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Promoted with Efficient Photogenerated Carriers Separation

“…This contributes a tactics to effectively enhance the photocatalytic hydrogen-producing ability by solving the problem of serious recombination of photogenerated carriers. [37][38][39] 2. Experimental Section The catalyst Ag 2 Mo 2 O 7 was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis.…”

Enwrapping ZnIn2S4 on vacancy-rich Nb2O5 nanoplates for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

“…The delicate design of a heterojunction serves as an effective strategy for enhancing the photocatalytic activity, attributed to the boosted separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers induced by the internal electric field (IEF). [6][7][8] Metal oxide semiconductors generally exhibit higher work functions (lower Fermi level) compared to metal sulfide semiconductors. This difference in the Fermi level results in an interfacial IEF, effectively regulating the behavior of photogenerated charge carriers.…”