Two-dimensional ZnS (propylamine) photocatalyst for efficient visible light photocatalytic H2 production

Boosted Solar Water Splitting over Direct S-Scheme Sulfur-Deficient ZnIn2S4/1D TiO2 Nanoarrays

The construction of the S-scheme defect-engineered heterojunction (S-DEH) has been regarded as a rising promise to acquire operative carrier separation and electron transport in hybrid nanocatalysts, providing an inspired access to accomplish efficient solar-fuel production and realize eco-friendly energy evolution. Herein, visible-light-responsive sulfur-deficient ZnIn2S4 quantum dots/TiO2 nanoarrays (TAs/SV-ZIS) were fabricated for promoting photocatalytic water splitting (TAs and SV-ZIS stand for TiO2 nanoarrays and sulfur-vacancy ZnIn2S4 quantum dots, respectively). The experimental results indicated that the matched band gap, interfacial chemical bond introduced by defect engineering, and built-in electric field at the heterojunction interface drive the construction of the direct S-DEH system. Under simulated solar irradiation, the optimized hydrogen production rate of TAs/SV-ZIS is 72.475 mmol·h-1·g-1, which is ∼3.9 times than that for pristine TiO2 nanoarrays and ∼2.0 times than that for TAs/ZIS counterparts. The enhanced photocatalytic performance observed in TiO2 nanoarrays modified with ZnIn2S4 quantum dots referred to the improved charge transport, carrier separation efficiency, and extended electron lifetime because of the valid introduction of defect sites on the nanocomposites.

Interfacial charge transfer on hierarchical synergistic shell wall of MXene/MoS2 on CdS nanospheres: heterostructure integrity for visible light responsive photocatalytic H2 evolution

Energy scarcity and environmental pollution have prompted research in hydrogen generation from solar to develop clean energy through highly efficient, effective, and long-lasting photocatalytic systems. Designing a catalyst with robust stability and an effective carrier separation rate was achieved through heterostructure assembly, but certain functionalities must be explored. In this paper we designed a ternary heterostructure assembly of CdS nanospheres wrapped with hierarchical shell walls of layered MXene-tagged MoS2 nanoflakes, forming intimate interfaces through an in-situ growth process. An in-layered shell wall of MXene with surface-wrapped MoS2 nanoflakes as a core-shell assembly improved the photo-corrosion resistance and accelerated the production of photocatalytic H2 (38.5 mmol g-1 h-1), which is 10.7, 3.1, and 1.9 times faster than that of CdS, CdS-MXe, and CdS-MoS2 nanostructures, respectively. The apparent quantum efficiency of the CdS-MXe2.4/MoS2 heterostructure was calculated to be 34.6% at λ = 420 nm. X-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopies validated the electronic states, energy band alignment, and work function of the heterostructures, whilst time-resolved photoluminescence measured the carrier lifespan to evaluate the effective charge migration in the CdS-MXe/MoS2 heterostructure. The dual surface wrapping of MXe/MoS2 over CdS nanospheres confirmed the structural durability that remained intact throughout the photocatalytic reaction, promoting approximately 93.1% of its catalytic property even after five repeatable cycles. This study examined how the MXene heterostructure template improves the catalytic efficiency and opens a new way to design MXene-based durable heterostructure catalysts for solar-energy conversion.

Recent Progress of Three-Dimensional Graphene-Based Composites for Photocatalysis

Converting solar energy into fuels/chemicals through photochemical approaches holds significant promise for addressing global energy demands. Currently, semiconductor photocatalysis combined with redox techniques has been intensively researched in pollutant degradation and secondary energy generation owing to its dual advantages of oxidizability and reducibility; however, challenges remain, particularly with improving conversion efficiency. Since graphene's initial introduction in 2004, three-dimensional (3D) graphene-based photocatalysts have garnered considerable attention due to their exceptional properties, such as their large specific surface area, abundant pore structure, diverse surface chemistry, adjustable band gap, and high electrical conductivity. Herein, this review provides an in-depth analysis of the commonly used photocatalysts based on 3D graphene, outlining their construction strategies and recent applications in photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, H2 evolution, and CO2 reduction. Additionally, the paper explores the multifaceted roles that 3D graphene plays in enhancing photocatalytic performance. By offering a comprehensive overview, we hope to highlight the potential of 3D graphene as an environmentally beneficial material and to inspire the development of more efficient, versatile graphene-based aerogel photocatalysts for future applications.

Boosted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of S-scheme N-doped CeO2-δ@ZnIn2S4 heterostructure photocatalyst

The advancement of highly effective heterojunction photocatalysts with improved charge separation and transfer has become a crucial scientific perspective for utilizing solar energy. In this study, we developed the S-scheme heterostructure by depositing N-doped CeO2-δ (NC) nanoparticles onto two-dimensional ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) nanosheets via hydrolysis strategy for significantly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. The optimal H2 generation rate of ∼ 798 μmol g-1 h-1 was achieved for NC-3@ZIS under solar light irradiation, which is about 18 and 2 times higher than those of pristine CeO2 (∼44 μmol g-1 h-1) and ZIS (∼358 μmol g-1 h-1), respectively. The photogenerated electrons from NC interact with the photogenerated holes of ZIS driven by an internal electric field, confirmed by In-situ KPFM, DFT calculation, and XPS results. According to EPR and photoelectrochemical measurements, NC-3@ZIS composite shows dramatically high separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. This study provides a new approach for developing non-noble metal S-scheme heterojunctions with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Construction of one-dimensional ZnCdS(EDA)/Ni@NiO for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The development of photocatalysts plays a pivotal role in facilitating the production of green hydrogen energy through water splitting. In this study, one-dimensional (1D) organic-inorganic ZnCdS(EDA)/Ni@NiO (EDA: ethylenediamine) nanorods were prepared by combining organic molecules of EDA into ZnCdS. The EDA molecule possesses two amino functional groups with strong electron-donating capacity, thereby facilitating electron transfer to ZnCdS(EDA)/Ni@NiO and enabling efficient hydrogen evolution through photocatalytic water splitting. The H2 evolution rate of ZnCdS(EDA)/Ni@NiO was 159 μmol g-1 h-1 in the absence of sacrificial agents, and its H2 evolution rate in the system with EDA as the sacrificial agent can reach 5760 μmol g-1 h-1. The combination of EDA, a S vacancy, and heterojunction was proved to be the main factor for improving the separation and transfer rate of photogenerated carriers. The incorporation of ZnCdS(EDA)/Ni@NiO enhances the participation of photogenerated electrons in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction, thereby improving the overall photocatalytic activity. The synthesis of this one-dimensional composite catalyst holds great potential for advancing the development of efficient photocatalytic materials.

Thermal transport in monolayer zinc-sulfide: effects of length, temperature and vacancy defects

Of late, atomically thin two-dimensional zinc-sulfide (2D-ZnS) shows great potential for advanced nanodevices and as a substitute to graphene and transition metal di-chalcogenides owing to its exceptional optical and electronic properties. However, the functional performance of nanodevices significantly depends on the effective heat management of the system. In this paper, we explored the thermal transport properties of 2D-ZnS through molecular dynamics simulations. The impact of length, temperature, and vacancy defects on the thermal properties of 2D-ZnS are systematically investigated. We found that the thermal conductivity (TC) rises monotonically with increasing sheet length, and the bulk TC of ∼30.67 W mK^-1is explored for an infinite length ZnS. Beyond room temperature (300 K), the TC differs from the usual 1/Trule and displays an abnormal, slowly declining behavior. The point vacancy (PV) shows the largest decrease in TC compared to the bi vacancy (BV) defects. We calculated phonon modes for various lengths, temperatures, and vacancies to elucidate the TC variation. Conversely, quantum corrections are used to avoid phonon modes' icing effects on the TC at low temperatures. The obtained phonon density of states (PDOS) shows a softening and shrinking nature with increasing temperature, which is responsible for the anomaly in the TC at high temperatures. Owing to the increase of vacancy concentration, the PDOS peaks exhibit a decrease for both types of defects. Moreover, the variation of the specific heat capacity and entropy with BV and PV signify our findings of 2D-ZnS TC at diverse concentrations along with the different forms of vacancies. The results elucidated in this study will be a guide for efficient heat management of ZnS-based optoelectronic and nano-electronic devices.