Nanoparticle heterojunctions in ZnS–ZnO hybrid nanowires for visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Abstract

We report one-step hydrothermal preparation of ZnS-ZnO hybrid nanowires consisting of well-distributed nanoparticle-heterojunctions that induce high activity for visible-light-driven H 2 evolution even without any noble metal co-catalysts. During the growth process, the nanoparticulated ZnS nanowires formed first, followed by ZnO nanocrystal growth with intercalation inside the ZnS nanowires. This growth mode could result in enriched ZnS-surface-states on the ZnO nanocrystal surfaces, as evidenced by the weakened absorption features and quenched band gap emission of ZnO in the ZnS-ZnO hybrid nanowires. Further studies by varying the ZnS to ZnO ratio in the ZnS-ZnO hybrids also proved that the population of ZnSsurface-states is crucial to the visible-light activity for photocatalytic H 2 evolution. This work provides a meaningful way to develop heterostructured composites as visible-light-active photocatalysts by using wide band gap semiconductors for solar fuel production.

Facile Solvothermal Synthesis of BiOCl/ZnO Heterostructures with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

“…Some nanoparticles are still attached but not peeled off from the sheet-like subunits (Figure 5(a)), indicating the strong interactions between the ZnO nanoparticles and the sheets. The as-prepared composites are highly crystallized, as confirmed by the lattice fringes with a -spacing values of 0.275 nm and 0.190 nm from the HRTEM measurements ( Figure 5(b)), corresponding to the (110) planes of BiOCl [26][27][28] and the (102) planes of ZnO [31,32], respectively, indicating the coexistence of BiOCl and ZnO in the present synthesis. The ZnO nanoparticles exist in the nanosheets subunits of the BiOCl flowers.…”

In Situ Decoration of ZnxCd1−xS with FeP for Efficient Photocatalytic Generation of Hydrogen under Irradiation with Visible Light

“…The over‐dependence on the fossil fuels during the past hundred years have caused several serious problems, such as environmental pollution, greenhouse effect and energy shortage . Hydrogen energy has attracted attentions of the whole world and been considered as an ideal alternative energy resource, while the way of obtaining cheap hydrogen remains challenging.…”

ZnS–ZnO nanocomposites: synthesis, characterization and enhanced photocatatlytic performance

“…Recently, to exploit well-defined nanocomposites is considered as a promising way. For example, ZnS-ZnO nanocomposites with different morphologies have been paid much attention due to their sizes, morphology-related properties and favourable photocatalystic properties [11][12][13][14][15][16]. However, currently, the facile synthesis of well-crystallized, cost-effective and novel ZnS-ZnO nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity still remains a challenge for scientific research.…”