ZnS/g-C3N4 heterojunction with Zn-vacancy for efficient hydrogen evolution in water splitting driven by visible light
Shaopeng Tian, Huaping Ren, Zexuan Liu, Zongcheng Miao, Lin Tian, Jing Li, Yuanyuan Liu, Shuai Wei, Peng Wang
Abstract
Herein, ZnS/g-C3N4 heterojunction structures were prepared by a rapid microwave method with a proper number density of defects such that they become efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction. The ZnS/g-C3N4 nanocomposites present a maximum hydrogen production rate of 65.43 μmol h−1 under visible light irradiation, which is ~7 times larger than that of g-C3N4. This good catalyst performance originates from the high efficiency of photoproduced charge separation due to the intimate interfacial contact of ZnS and g-C3N4 in the ZnS/g-C3N4 heterojunctions, as well as the presence of Zn vacancies on the ZnS surface. This work offers a simple strategy for building highly efficient photocatalytic materials for H2 evolution in water splitting.