Preparation and Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution of Graphene-ZnIn2S4 Nanocomposite Spheres

doi:10.15541/jim20140591

Abstract

Abstract:

Graphene-ZnIn₂S₄ nanocomposite spheres were prepared via a facile photocatalytic reduction method. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, XPS and DRS. The results showed that the graphene oxide was reduced to graphene and ZnIn₂S₄ nanospheres were loaded on the surface of graphene sheets through a photocatalytic reduction process. The experimental results for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of the samples indicated that the amount of evoluted H₂ under simulated sunlight irradiation using graphene-ZnIn₂S₄ nanocomposite spheres was 1540.8 μmol, 9.8 times of the pure ZnIn₂S₄ nanospheres, under optimal technological condition with the graphene content of 2.0wt% for 24 h. The enhanced performance can be attributed to the graphene which effectively promoted the transfer of photogenerated electrons. Furthermore, a detailed photocatalytic hydrogen evolution mechanism of graphene-ZnIn₂S₄ nanocomposite spheres was investigated.

Key words: photocatalytic reduction method, ZnIn2S4 nanospheres, graphene, hydrogen evolution

CLC Number:

TQ174

ZHOU Min-Jie, ZHANG Na, HOU Zhao-Hui. Preparation and Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution of Graphene-ZnIn₂S₄ Nanocomposite Spheres[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2015, 30(7): 713-718.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 XRD patterns of ZnIn2S4 and GE- ZnIn2S4 nanocomposite spheres

Fig. 2 SEM (a) and TEM (b) images of ZnIn2S4 nanospheres and SEM (c) and TEM (d) images of GE-Zn-In2S4 nanocomposite spheres

Fig. 3 FT-IR spectra of GO and GE-ZnIn2S4 nanocomposite spheres

Fig. 4 C1s XPS spectra of GO (a) and C1s (b), Zn2p (c) and In3d (d) XPS spectra of GE-ZnIn2S4 nanocomposite spheres

Fig. 5 UV-Vis DRS spectra of ZnIn2S4 and GE-ZnIn2S4 nanocomposites spheres

Fig. 6 Effect of GE contents in GE-ZnIn2S4 on the amount of evoluted H2

Fig. 7 Effect of photocatalytic reduction time on the amount of evoluted H2

Fig. 8 Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction mechanism of GE-ZnIn2S4 nanocomposite spheres

References 20

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Preparation and Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution of Graphene-ZnIn₂S₄ Nanocomposite Spheres

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