Articles & Issues
- Language
- English
- Conflict of Interest
- In relation to this article, we declare that there is no conflict of interest.
- Publication history
-
This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/3.0) which permits
unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
All issues
Improved Charge Separation and Eff ective H 2 Production at Interface of Crystallized Ni(OH) 2 –SO 4 –Zn 4 (OH) 6 Junction Derived from Chemically Bonded 2D–2D ZnO–NiS Nanopanel
Abstract
In this research, NiS was incorporated as a supplementary light-absorbing component to enhance the primary ZnO photocatalyst.
The two components were linked through chemical means and their crystal structures, optical properties, degree of
defects, and catalytic activities were explored. During a hydrothermal treatment, both Ni and S sources were simultaneously
added to the ZnO particles. The resulting ZnO–NiS junction exhibited a 2D–2D structure and a crystallized junction interface
capable of absorbing light in the visible region. The crystalline Ni(OH) 2 –SO 4 –Zn 4 (OH) 6 junction interface provides a large
surface area and induces fast charge transfer and slow exciton recombination. This is similar to an electron transport medium
between the two components. The quantum effi ciency of individual NiS is close to zero; NiS acts as a light absorption aid for
ZnO, facilitating the transfer of excited electrons to the ZnO conduction band, thereby enhancing the photoactivity. Hydrogen
production via water splitting on the optimized 1ZnO–1NiS junction catalyst was 452.8 μmol g −1 h −1 , which is 205 and 99
times higher than that produced using the pure NiS and ZnO catalysts, respectively. Charge transfer in the ZnO–NiS junction
followed a typical Type II pattern. The crystallized junction interface resulting from chemical bonding of the two particles
serves as a charge carrier, aff ording enhanced photoactivity.
