Enhanced Charge Transfer Dynamics in a NiCo<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub>–Zn<sub><i>x</i></sub>Cd<sub>1–<i>x</i></sub>S Photothermal Catalyst for Efficient Photoreforming of Waste Plastic
Wenjie Su, Yule Zhang, Yule Zhang, Artem V. Kuklin, Yiguo Xu, V. S. Gerasimov, Zehao Ma, Han Zhang, Hans Ågren, Ye Zhang, Ye Zhang
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The green circular utilization of waste plastics is crucial for environmental protection. Converting waste plastics into H 2 fuel and valuable chemicals by utilization of the solar spectrum is highly attractive. Herein, a photothermal catalyst composed of metallic NiCo 2 S 4 and semiconductor Zn x Cd 1– x S (NCS–ZCS) materials is rationally designed. The photogenerated electrons are shown to flow from Zn x Cd 1– x S to NiCo 2 S 4 and are excited into hot electrons via the localized surface plasmon resonance effect, promoting H 2 evolution. The holes on Zn x Cd 1– x S serve as the oxidation active species for efficiently converting waste plastic into value-added chemicals. Systematic studies show that the photoreforming process can be enhanced with a photothermal effect from NiCo 2 S 4 . Theoretical calculations confirmed experimental results. Under visible to infrared irradiation, H 2 evolution rates of 57.0 and 106.0 mmol·g cat –1 ·h –1 along with the yields of value-added chemicals of 39.18 and 206.05 μmol mL –1 in polyethylene terephthalate and polylactic acid substrates are achieved.