Construction of Z-scheme CoFe2O4@ZnIn2S4 p-n heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production

The p-n heterojunction's construction is considered a valid and prominent method to accelerate photogenerated carriers' separation and transfer rate, enhancing the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this work, the core-shell CoFe2O4@ZnIn2S4 (CFO@ZIS) p-n heterojunction photocatalyst is designed and fabricated by growing ZIS nanosheets on yolk-shelled CFO surfaces by hydrothermal and calcination method followed by oil bath process for the first time. Notably, the CFO@ZIS-2 photocatalyst exhibits excellent cycle applicability and chemical stability and exhibits a remarkable hydrogen evolution rate of 1576.5 mu mol center dot g- 1 center dot h-1 without Pt as a cocatalyst. However, the hydrogen evolution rates of pristine ZIS and CFO products are just 344.3 and 0 mu mol center dot g- 1 center dot h-1, respectively. Furthermore, the analysis of structural, morphological, optical and photo/electrochemical characterizations further manifested the existence of p-n heterojunction in CFO@ZIS core-shell structure is beneficial to facilitate the separation and migration of photoinduced carriers. Meanwhile, the ZScheme mechanism of CFO@ZIS p-n heterojunction in photocatalytic hydrogen production has been discussed in detail. This work provides a feasible and resultful strategy to design the core-shell p-n heterojunction for the promotion of photocatalytic H2 production.