Cu-Doped ZnIn<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub>/Ni<sub><i>x</i></sub>P Composites with Enhanced Carrier Dynamics and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production Performance
Tongyang Zhang, Aihua Yan, Sen Luo, Fei Huang, Jixu Zhang, Ye Gao, Wenxue Zhao, Ziwu Liu, Xianhui Zhao
Abstract
Photocatalytic technology still faces enormous challenges to design and synthesize highly efficient photocatalytic materials with a high electron/hole separation efficiency, rapid charge migration, low carrier recombination rate, and strong visible light-harvesting capability. Herein, Cu-doped ZnIn 2 S 4 /Ni x P (marked Cu y ZIS/NP) composites were successfully synthesized by a simple two-step method. The synergistic effect of Cu 2+ doping and the Ni x P cocatalyst on hydrogen evolution performance was investigated in detail. The results showed that superior photoactivity over Cu y ZIS/NP composites was achieved. The optimal Cu 0.5 ZIS/NP-1/2 sample had a hydrogen evolution rate of 4746.3 μmol·g –1 ·h –1 under visible light irradiation, which was approximately 15.98 times higher than that of pure ZnIn 2 S 4 (297 μmol·g –1 ·h –1 ). This work may offer a valuable insight into understanding the synergistic effect of doping and cocatalysis and provide a guideline for designing and developing highly efficient visible light-driven photocatalysts toward a water splitting system.