Synthesis of Z‐Scheme CuInS₂@BiOBr Heterojunction Composite with Visible‐Light Activity

Abstract

In this paper, CuInS2 was grown on the surface of flower‐shaped BiOBr by a two‐step hydrothermal method for the first time, and a direct Z‐scheme CuInS2@BiOBr heterojunction structure with close interface contact was successfully prepared. The formation of heterojunctions improves the efficiency of photogenerated carrier transport and separation. Under the visible light irradiation for 75 min, the optimal 5 wt % CuInS2@BiOBr composite material can degrade RhB to 97 %. Radical trapping experiment is shown that holes and superoxide radicals are the main active materials in photocatalytic processes, and a direct Z‐scheme photocatalytic mechanism is proposed.

Interfacial S–O bonds specifically boost Z-scheme charge separation in a CuInS2/In2O3 heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic activity

“…24 Recently, copper indium disulfide (CuInS 2 ), a ternary chalcogenide semiconductor, has shown great potential in photocatalysis due to its narrow band energy (∼1.8 eV) and high optical absorption coefficient ( α > 10 5 cm −1 ). 25,26 Furthermore, the CuInS 2 possesses a theoretically suitable band structures and Fermi levels with those of In 2 O 3 , 27,28 which makes them prospective candidates for constructing a Z-scheme heterostructure. However, to the best of our knowledge, very few reports currently focus on the assembling of such CuInS 2 /In 2 O 3 composite to achieve a promoted photocatalytic activity.…”