Photocatalytic hydrogen generation over porous ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} microspheres synthesized via a CPBr-assisted hydrothermal method

Journal Article · Fri Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2011.03.012· OSTI ID:22212189

Bai, Xuefeng ^[1]; Li, Jinshu ^[2]

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1. Institute of Petrochemistry, Heilongjiang Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150040 (China)
2. School of Chemistry and Materials, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150070 (China)

Graphical abstract: ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} porous microspheres were synthesized via a cetylpyridinium bromide (CPBr)-assisted hydrothermal method. It could be seen from the SEM image that the flowerlike microspheres were composed of numerous nanosheets. Many slit-like pores were formed among the curved nanosheets. The porous structure benefited the adsorption of reactants, the diffuseness of products, the charge separation on surface, the transfer of the interfacial charge carriers and the charge carrier trapping. And porous ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} photocatalyst exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than nonporous ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} material. Highlights: {yields} A series of unique flower-like porous ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} microspheres of hexagonal crystal phase as efficient visible-light photocatalysts have been synthesized through CPBr-assisted hydrothermal method. {yields} The CPBr addition would visibly influence the self-assemble growing and the crystal structure including the position and intensity of some peaks. {yields} We also found that the pH value plays a crucial role in the formation of ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} porous microspheres and the influence of the pH on the structure of product has been first reported in our paper. {yields} The results showed that our as-synthesized porous ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} microspheres possessed a specific surface area of 165.4 m{sup 2} g{sup -1} and performed higher visible-light photocatalytic activity than bulk ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} for hydrogen evolution. The maximum H{sub 2} evolution rate of ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} reaches 1544.8 {mu}mol/(h g). -- Abstract: Hexagonal ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} porous microspheres were synthesized via a cetylpyridinium bromide (CPBr)-assisted hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology and optical property of these prepared products were characterized by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXRD), small angle X-ray diffraction (SAXRD), UV-Vis diffusive reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX) and nitrogen sorption analysis. The effects of CPBr and pH on the crystal structure, morphology and photocatalytic activity of ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} products were studied. The results demonstrated that the flowerlike ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} microspheres, which were composed of numerous nanosheets, performed higher visible-light photocatalytic activity than bulk ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} for hydrogen evolution. The CPBr addition influenced the crystal structure including the position and intensity of some peaks. Furthermore, the pH played a crucial role in the formation of ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} porous microspheres. The as-synthesized porous ZnIn{sub 2}S{sub 4} microspheres possessed the specific surface area of 165.4 m{sup 2} g{sup -1} and the slit-like porous configuration, which was beneficial to photocatalytic reaction.

• OSTI ID: 22212189
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 46, Issue 7; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ADSORPTION
BROMIDES
CHARGE CARRIERS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
FIELD EMISSION
HYDROGEN
HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS
INTERSTITIAL HYDROGEN GENERATION
MICROSPHERES
NANOSTRUCTURES
OPTICAL PROPERTIES
PEAKS
PH VALUE
PHOTOCATALYSIS
POROUS MATERIALS
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
SPECIFIC SURFACE AREA
SURFACES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION