Enhanced solar to hydrogen conversion via Ni addition to a few layered 2D/2D g-C3N4/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction

Abstract

The development of an earth-abundant, low-cost ultrathin “sheet-on-sheet” heterostructure, comprising few-layered g-C3N4 and ZnIn2S4 nanosheets (FCN/ZIS), demonstrates remarkable potential for diverse applications. This innovative heterostructure exhibits notable properties, including a porous FCN matrix enabling charge transfer cavities, one-directional migration of photogenerated charge carriers at the FCN/ZIS interface, and staggered gap band alignment promoting interfacial charge separation, resulting in exceptional photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. Furthermore, the addition of a small amount of nickel salts into the reaction solution significantly enhances the HER activity, yielding a rate of 16.93 mmol h−1 g−1, representing a substantial improvement over pristine ZIS (2.17 mmol h−1 g−1) and FCN. Through comprehensive experimental and theoretical analyses, it was elucidated that the augmented solar-to-hydrogen conversion in Ni–FCN/ZIS was attributed to the effective charge carrier separation facilitated by the unique properties of the ultrathin “sheet-on-sheet” FCN/ZIS heterostructure, along with superior charge transportation facilitated by Ni salts within the reaction solution and active Ni sites, thereby significantly reducing the HER overpotential. This pioneering utilization of Ni salts within the FCN/ZIS system for photocatalytic hydrogen production holds promising prospects for advancing research in this domain.

Graphical abstract: Enhanced solar to hydrogen conversion via Ni addition to a few layered 2D/2D g-C3N4/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Feb 2024
Accepted
19 May 2024
First published
20 May 2024

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article

Enhanced solar to hydrogen conversion via Ni addition to a few layered 2D/2D g-C3N4/ZnIn2S4 heterojunction

P. Bhavani, M. R. Ashwin Kishore, D. Praveen Kumar, J. S. Yoo and Y. Park, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2024, Advance Article , DOI: 10.1039/D4TA01222D

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