Zhichao
Yi
a,
Jianhong
Wu
a,
Chensheng
Zhou
a,
Zhiquan
Lai
a,
Kailian
Zhang
a,
Kangqiang
Lu
a,
Weiya
Huang
a,
Changlin
Yu
b and
Kai
Yang
*a
aSchool of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Crystalline Materials Chemistry, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, China. E-mail: yangkai@jxust.edu.cn
bSchool of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, Guangdong, China
First published on 5th March 2026
Metal chalcogenide semiconductors show promise for energy conversion and environmental remediation due to their visible-light responsiveness, yet rapid recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs limits their practical efficiency. Here, a series of samarium (Sm)-doped MnIn2S4 photocatalysts were synthesized via a one-pot hydrothermal method and systematically explored, and it was found that Sm3+ incorporation modulates their structure and photocatalytic performance. Among them, 5% Sm-doped MnIn2S4 exhibits superior activity, achieving a H2O2 production rate of 143 μmol g−1 h−1—1.5 times higher than that of the undoped material—and degrading methylene blue with an 89% efficiency and a reaction rate 1.6-fold faster than that of the pristine phase. Mechanistic studies reveal that superoxide radicals (˙O2−) dominate the photocatalytic process, with H2O2 formation proceeding via a two-electron oxygen reduction pathway. These findings demonstrate an effective strategy for enhancing metal chalcogenides with rare-earth doping and provide guidance for the design of high-performance inorganic photocatalysts.
Rare-earth elements have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique electronic configurations. Their incompletely filled 4f orbitals and empty 5d orbitals allow them to act as electron or hole traps, which effectively suppress the recombination of photogenerated charge carriers and thereby enhance photocatalytic activity.15–18 Particularly, samarium (Sm3+) ions have shown remarkable capability in modulating the electronic structure of semiconductors through their specific energy level characteristics.19 Previous studies have indicated that Sm3+ doping can effectively narrow the bandgap, improve visible light absorption, and promote charge separation in various semiconductor systems.20,21 Nevertheless, systematic investigations on the structure–activity relationship of Sm3+ doped MnIn2S4, especially regarding the doping concentration effects on material properties and photocatalytic mechanisms, remain insufficiently explored.
Based on this, MnIn2S4 photocatalysts with different molar ratios of Sm doping (Sm doping ratios of 2%, 5%, and 10%) were prepared in this study via a one-step hydrothermal method. Their physicochemical properties such as phase, morphology, and electronic structure were systematically characterized. The photocatalytic production of H2O2 and degradation of methylene blue were employed as target reactions to investigate the regulatory effect of Sm doping on the photocatalytic performance of MnIn2S4. The study establishes a clear correlation between Sm3+ doping concentration and photocatalytic efficiency, revealing that optimal performance is achieved at a 5% doping level. Furthermore, Sm3+ incorporation induces significant morphological modifications and electronic structure adjustments, which collectively contribute to enhancing charge separation efficiency as confirmed by comprehensive photoelectrochemical analysis. Mechanistic investigations identify the superoxide radical (˙O2−) as the primary active species and elucidate the two-electron oxygen reduction pathway for H2O2 production. This research provides substantial insights into the design principles of rare-earth-doped metal chalcogenide photocatalysts, advancing the fundamental understanding of structure–activity relationships in modified semiconductor systems. The findings offer practical guidance for developing high-performance photocatalytic materials applicable to sustainable energy conversion and environmental remediation technologies, particularly in the context of solar-driven chemical synthesis and pollutant degradation.
SEM and TEM analyses provide visual evidence for understanding the effect of Sm doping on the microstructure of materials. As observed in Fig. 1c and d, pure MnIn2S4 was composed of irregular nanosheets self-assembled into microspherical structures, with the nanosheets being relatively thick and having a rough surface. After Sm doping, the nanosheets became significantly thinner and more uniform with a smoother surface. This morphological evolution is conducive to increasing the specific surface area and the number of active sites. The specific surface area of MnIn2S4 5%Sm increased to 70.17 m2 g−1 (Fig. S2), and Table S1 further shows the specific surface area and pore structure parameters. TEM and HRTEM analyses (Fig. 1e and f) further revealed that the MnIn2S4 5%Sm sample had clear lattice fringes, with a measured lattice spacing of 0.618 nm corresponding to the (111) crystal plane of cubic-phase MnIn2S4.25 Elemental mapping confirmed the uniform distribution of Mn, In, S, and Sm elements in the sample (Fig. 1g).
To gain deeper insight into the chemical states of various elements in the composites, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was employed to characterize the surface chemistry of the samples. The survey spectrum of the sample (Fig. S3) confirmed the presence of all expected elements. As shown in Fig. 2a, the peaks at 161.1 eV and 162.3 eV for the MnIn2S4 5%Sm sample were attributed to S 2p3/2 and S 2p1/2, respectively, indicating that sulfur existed in the form of S2− ions.26Fig. 2b shows the In 3d XPS spectrum, where peaks at binding energies of 444.3 eV and 451.9 eV are assigned to In 3d5/2 and In 3d3/2,27 respectively, verifying the presence of In3+. As shown in Fig. 2c, the MnIn2S4 5%Sm sample exhibits peaks at binding energies of 636.5 eV and 642.1 eV, corresponding to Mn 2p3/2 and Mn 2p1/2, respectively.28Fig. 2d shows that the MnIn2S4 5%Sm sample has peaks at binding energies of 1078.0 eV and 1084.7 eV, which are assigned to Sm 3d5/2 and Sm 3d3/2, respectively.29 The high-resolution XPS analysis reveals a consistent negative shift in the binding energies of Mn (−0.3 eV), In (−0.2 eV), and S (−0.15 eV) in the composite. This uniform shift towards lower binding energies indicates electron transfer from MnIn2S4 to Sm3+, directly evidencing a strong electronic interaction. The absence of Sm elements in the pure MnIn2S4 sample indicates that Sm3+ has been successfully doped into the MnIn2S4 lattice. Furthermore, the binding energies of Mn 2p, In 3d, and S 2p orbitals in MnIn2S4 5%Sm were slightly lower than those in pure MnIn2S4, implying a strong interaction between Sm3+ and MnIn2S4.
Photoelectrochemical measurements elucidate Sm doping's impact on photogenerated charge carrier behavior. Transient photocurrent responses characterize photogenerated charge transfer in samples, and the carriers’ separation efficiency was determined via photocurrent response, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with an amplitude of 5 mV s−1, high frequency of 100 kHz, low frequency of 1 Hz and potential of 0.23 V and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). The photocurrent test results are shown in Fig. 2e. The order of photocurrent intensity for the composite and pure samples is as follows: MnIn2S4 5%Sm > MnIn2S4 2%Sm > MnIn2S4 10%Sm > MnIn2S4. Thus, the MnIn2S4-5%Sm sample exhibited the highest photocurrent response intensity, while the pure sample had a lower current density, indicating poor charge carrier separation efficiency in pure MnIn2S4. From the EIS Nyquist plots (Fig. 2f), the arc radius of MnIn2S4 5%Sm is smaller than that of the pure sample, indicating that Sm doping reduced the electron transport resistance, thus facilitating the migration of photogenerated electrons. To quantitatively evaluate Sm regulation on MnIn2S4 charge transfer, EIS Nyquist plots were fitted via the equivalent circuit model, with results summarized in Table S2. The solution resistance (Rs) varies slightly (41.69–51.82 Ω cm2) across samples, while the charge transfer resistance (Rct) shows a distinct trend: MnIn2S4 exhibits a high Rct of 5010 Ω cm2, which drops to 1200 Ω cm2 (23.9% of the pure counterpart) at 5% Sm doping. Correspondingly, the constant phase element (CPE) with Sm regulation shows a lower value. These results confirm that 5% Sm doping is the optimal ratio for minimizing Rct and boosting charge transfer efficiency. Steady-state photoluminescence (PL) spectra show that MnIn2S4 5%Sm has the lowest emission intensity, indicating the highest charge carrier separation efficiency (Fig. 2g). The surface potentials of MnIn2S4 and MnIn2S4 5%Sm measured by KPFM are 145 mV and 209 mV, respectively (Fig. 2h and i). The surface potential of MnIn2S4 5%Sm is nearly 1.5 times higher than that of pure MnIn2S4, demonstrating that Sm doping induced a stronger surface potential, thereby promoting more efficient charge separation.30 As revealed by ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS), Sm doping effectively narrows the band gap to 2.06 eV, thereby enhancing the visible-light absorption capacity (Fig. S4). In light of the analysis of results derived from Mott–Schottky (MS) measurement, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) tests (Fig. S5–S7), the conduction band position of Sm3+-doped MnIn2S4 undergoes a negative shift. The double-layer capacitance (Cdl)—calculated from the slope of Fig. S7—reflects the electrochemically active surface area: MnIn2S4 has a low Cdl value (0.74 mF cm−2), while MnIn2S4 5%Sm shows a 6.4-fold higher Cdl value (4.71 mF cm−2), indicating the expanded electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) that aids material–electrolyte charge interaction. These results (the minimized Rct and the enlarged Cdl) confirm that 5% Sm doping is optimal for charge transfer efficiency, aligning with transient photocurrent and PL trends. This shift not only facilitates the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs in MnIn2S4 but also enhances its reduction capability.
The photocatalytic performance was evaluated based on H2O2 production capacity. As shown in Fig. 3a, MnIn2S4 produces only a small amount of H2O2, whereas Sm-doped samples exhibit significantly enhanced H2O2 production. MnIn2S4 5%Sm achieves the optimal performance with a maximum H2O2 production rate of 143 μmol g−1 h−1, which is approximately 1.5 times higher than that of MnIn2S4. Contact angle tests indicate that MnIn2S4 5%Sm has a significantly lower contact angle than the pure sample, suggesting enhanced hydrophilicity that facilitates the diffusion and adsorption of reactants on the catalyst (Fig. S8). The enhanced hydrophilicity in H2O2-producing catalyst primarily boosts performance by improving mass transfer and optimizing the interfacial reaction environment. It facilitates better infiltration of water and dissolved oxygen at catalytic sites, promoting an efficient oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) via a direct two-electron pathway. This modification effectively enhanced the H2O2 production activities of photocatalysts.
To elucidate the reaction mechanism, free radical trapping experiments were conducted by adding isopropanol (IPA, ˙OH scavenger), EDTA-2Na (h+ scavenger), and p-benzoquinone (P-BQ, ˙O2− scavenger) to the reaction system. The addition of P-BQ drastically reduces the H2O2 production rate from 143 to 71 μmol g−1 h−1 within 120 min, indicating that ˙O2− serves as the primary active species. The addition of IPA also decreases the H2O2 yield from 143 to 104 μmol g−1 h−1, suggesting that the hydroxyl radical (˙OH) acts as a secondary active species (Fig. 3b).
The recyclability of MnIn2S4 5%Sm for H2O2 production was investigated over four consecutive cycles. Under Xe lamp irradiation, the H2O2 yield remains at 120.1 μmol g−1 h−1, demonstrating good catalytic stability (Fig. 3c). XRD (Fig. S9), XPS (Fig. S10) and BET (Fig. S11) characterization studies were further conducted on the as-prepared samples before and after the reaction to evaluate their structural and textural stability. All the characterization results demonstrated that the material exhibited no obvious structural, compositional or textural variations after the reaction, which sufficiently verifies the excellent cycling stability of the as-synthesized material. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity was assessed by degrading methylene blue (MB) as the target pollutant. After 100 minutes of visible light irradiation, the degradation rates of 20 ppm MB by pure MnIn2S4 and the Sm-doped samples (2%, 5%, and 10%) are 70%, 79%, 89%, and 80%, respectively (Fig. 3d). Reaction kinetic fitting confirms that MnIn2S4-5%Sm has the fastest degradation kinetics (Fig. 3e). MnIn2S4 5%Sm maintains 82% of its initial degradation efficiency after four cycles, confirming its excellent cycling stability (Fig. 3f).
To identify the primary active species and clarify the reaction mechanism of photocatalytic H2O2 production, electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements were performed to detect the presence of ˙OH and ˙O2− during the reaction. 5,5-Dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) was used as the spin trap agent and dissolved in methanol/water mixtures to capture the generated radicals, and ESR signals were recorded before and after light irradiation.31–33 As shown in Fig. 4a and b, under dark conditions, no ESR signals for DMPO–˙OH and DMPO–˙O2− are detected for either the MnIn2S4 or MnIn2S4 5%Sm catalyst. After Xe lamp irradiation, distinct ESR signals of ˙OH and ˙O2− appear, and their intensities increase with a prolonged irradiation time, indicating the accumulation of these radicals on the catalyst surface.
More crucially, compared to pure MnIn2S4, MnIn2S4 5%Sm exhibits higher signal intensities in the detection of both ˙OH and ˙O2− radicals. More importantly, MnIn2S4 5%Sm exhibits higher signal intensities of both ˙OH and ˙O2− than pure MnIn2S4, with a more significant increase in ˙O2− intensity than that of ˙OH. This result suggests that ˙O2− is the dominant active species, while ˙OH plays a secondary role in the catalytic process. Collectively, the trapping experiments and ESR spectra confirm that MnIn2S4 5%Sm enhances the generation of ˙O2− and ˙OH photocatalytically active species, thus improving H2O2 production efficiency.
To further clarify the H2O2 formation mechanism of MnIn2S4 5%Sm, in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (in situ DRIFTS) was used to monitor the reaction intermediates under illumination.34 As shown in Fig. 4c, under dark conditions, MnIn2S4 5%Sm maintains an adsorption–desorption equilibrium of O2 within the first 30 minutes. Subsequently, under continuous illumination, the peak intensity around 950–1000 cm−1 corresponds to the O–O bond. Additionally, the peak at around 1100 cm−1 gradually intensifies, which is attributed to the superoxide radical (˙O2−). The gradual enhancement of the ˙O2− peak (1090 cm−1) and the ˙OOH peak in the range of 1200 cm−1 to 1300 cm−1 further confirms the involvement of the two-step single-electron reduction pathway.35,36 The corresponding 2D color mapping contour plot directly visualizes the dynamic generation and evolution of characteristic wavenumber signals of H2O2, ˙OOH and other reactive oxygen species with reaction time (Fig. 4d). Therefore, the mechanism for H2O2 synthesis in MnIn2S4 5%Sm confirms the two-electron oxygen reduction pathway (O2 + e− → ˙O2− + H+ → ˙OOH + e− + H+ → H2O2).
The concentrations of ˙O2− and ˙OH were quantified using the absorbance spectra of the nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) (Fig. 5(a)) and the fluorescence spectra of 7-hydroxycoumarin (Fig. 5(b)), respectively. After 2.5 hours of visible-light irradiation, the concentration of ˙O2− generated by MnIn2S4 5%Sm reaches 5.7 μM, while that of ˙OH is 4.8 μM, which confirms that ˙O2− is the primary active species in the system (Fig. 5(c)). The capturing experiment (Fig. 5(d)) shows that the MB degradation efficiency drops sharply from 89% to 18% after adding p-benzoquinone (P-BQ, the ˙O2− scavenger), while it only decreases to 61% after adding isopropanol (IPA, the ˙OH scavenger).37,38 Combined with the quantitative data of active species, this indicates that ˙O2− is the dominant active species for MB degradation, with photogenerated electrons driving the generation of ˙O2−via oxygen reduction as the core pathway, and the material reacts with H2O2 to generate ˙OH, playing a minor role.39
Integrating the above characterization and spectral analyses, a comprehensive photocatalytic mechanism for Sm3+-doped MnIn2S4 is proposed, as illustrated in Fig. 6. Upon visible-light irradiation, MnIn2S4 semiconductors can induce the generation of free charge carriers (conduction band electrons and valence band holes). The introduction of Sm3+ can narrow the band gap width of pristine MnIn2S4, which not only broadens the visible-light absorption range but also facilitates the rapid separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs by reducing the separation and transport efficiency of photo-generated carriers, thereby achieving high-efficiency charge separation. From a thermodynamic perspective, the conduction band edge potential of MnIn2S4 5%Sm (−0.445 eV vs. NHE) is substantially more negative than the standard redox potential of the O2/˙O2− couple (−0.33 V vs. NHE). O2 molecules are adsorbed on the active sites of the catalyst, and the photogenerated electrons in the conduction band are transferred to the antibonding orbitals of the adsorbed O2 molecules, breaking the electronic balance of O2 and ultimately generating ˙O2−, with the reaction formula: O2 + e− → ˙O2−. These ˙O2− radicals serve as the core active species for H2O2 production via the two-electron reduction pathway. As confirmed by the two-electron oxygen reduction pathway, the generated ˙O2− first undergoes protonation to form ˙OOH, and then receives another photogenerated electron and proton to generate H2O2 (O2 + e− → ˙O2−, ˙O2− + H+ → ˙OOH, ˙OOH + e− + H+ → H2O2). The conduction band potential of Sm-MnIn2S4 is −0.445 eV vs. NHE, which is more negative than the standard redox potential of H2O2/˙OH (0.87 eV vs. NHE), making the single-electron reduction of H2O2 by photogenerated electrons thermodynamically feasible: H2O2 + e− → ˙OH + OH−.
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