Preparation and investigation of 2D/2D black phosphorene/ZnIn₂S₄ Z‐scheme photocatalysts for enhanced hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Heterojunction photocatalytic materials show great promise in hydrogen production from water decomposition under visible light. The selection of components in the heterojunction and the type of heterojunction constructed directly determine the hydrogen production efficiency. In this study, black phosphorene (BP), which has a broad visible light absorption range, and ZnIn2S4 (ZIS), with a suitable band structure, are chosen to design new heterojunction photocatalysts. Through an ultrasound‐assisted solvothermal method, a BP/ZIS heterojunction with a unique layered 2D/2D structure is successfully synthesized. Comprehensive characterization and calculation have elucidated the microstructure and band structure of BP and ZIS, further confirming the formation of a Z‐scheme heterojunction. Such a novel BP/ZIS heterojunction exhibits a remarkable photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 1317 µmol·h−1·g−1, making a 3.35‐fold increase compared to ZIS and superior performance over BP. This enhancement in photocatalytic activity of BP/ZIS heterojunction can be primarily attributed to the enhanced light harvesting and carrier utilization resulting from the formation of the Z‐scheme heterojunction. This work provides new insights for the development of efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen production.