Design of ZnIn2S4@N−Fe3C Nanorods‐Embedded Nanocages Assemblies for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Abstract

AbstractCocatalyst materials can promote the separation of photogenerated electron‐hole pairs and accelerate the catalytically active sites of semiconductor photocatalysts. However, it is critical to make low‐cost, noble‐metal‐free materials with high catalytic reactivity, yet this task is extremely difficult to do. Herein, an effective photocatalytic hydrogen generation process has been developed using N‐doped Fe3C (N−Fe3C) nanocages adorned with ultrathin ZnIn2S4 nanosheets produced from a dual metal organic framework. In addition, the highly porous hybrid structure developed gives a large number of active sites for catalytic reduction events, and light scattering can be used to better capture visible light. Due to their improved solar‐driven hydrogen evolution rate (9,600 μmol h−1 g−1) and apparent quantum efficiency (3.6 %), these structures are superior to those of Pt noble‐metal co‐catalytic systems and ZnIn2S4‐based nanohybrids, which were previously reported.