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. 2021 Nov 19;11(11):3122.
doi: 10.3390/nano11113122.

CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH Multi-Interface Heterostructure Photocatalyst for Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Evolution and Cr(VI) Reduction

Rao Fu  1   2 , Yinyan Gong  2 , Can Li  2 , Lengyuan Niu  2 , Xinjuan Liu  2
Affiliations

CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH Multi-Interface Heterostructure Photocatalyst for Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Evolution and Cr(VI) Reduction

Rao Fu et al. Nanomaterials (Basel). .

Abstract

The development of highly active and stable photocatalysts, an effective way to remediate environment pollution and alleviate energy shortages, remains a challenging issue. In this work, a CdIn2S4/In(OH)3 nanocomposite was deposited in-situ on NiCr-LDH nanosheets by a simple hydrothermal method, and the obtained CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH heterostructure photocatalysts with multiple intimate-contact interfaces exhibited better photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH increased to 10.9 and 58.7 times that of the counterparts CdIn2S4 and NiCr-LDH, respectively. Moreover, the photocatalytic removal efficiency of Cr(VI) increased from 6% for NiCr-LDH and 75% for CdIn2S4 to 97% for CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH. The enhanced photocatalytic performance was attributed to the formation of multi-interfaces with strong interfacial interactions and staggered band alignments, which offered multiple pathways for carrier migration, thus promoting the separation efficiency of photo-excited electrons and holes. This study demonstrates a facile method to fabricate inexpensive and efficient heterostructure photocatalysts for solving environmental problems.

Keywords: CdIn2S4; In(OH)3; LDHs; charge separation; nano-heterostructures; photocatalysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
XRD patterns of HP-120, HP-150, HP-180 and HP-190 together with NC-180 and CIS-4.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(a–c) SEM images of CIS-4, NC-180 and HP-180, (d) EDX mapping of Cd, In, S, O, Cr, and Ni elements in HP-180.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a,b) TEM and (c,d) HRTEM images of HP-180, where c and d correspond to regions I and II, respectively.
Figure 4
Figure 4
High-resolution XPS spectra of CIS-4, NC-180 and HP-180 (a) Cd 3d, (b) In 3d, (c) S 2p, (d) Ni 2p, (e) Cr 2p, (f) O 1s spectra.
Figure 5
Figure 5
(a) UV-Vis absorption spectra of CIS-4, NC-180 and HP-180; (b,c) Tauc-plots of CIS-4 and NC-180, respectively.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Comparison of photocatalytic activity (a) H2 production versus time and (b) H2 evolution rate over pristine CIS-4, NC-180, HP-120, HP-150, HP-180 and HP-190; (c) recyclability experiment of photocatalytic H2 generation over HP-180; (d) XRD patterns of HP-180 before and after test.
Figure 7
Figure 7
(a) Photocatalytic reduction efficiency and (b) pseudo first-order kinetic fitting curves of aqueous Cr(VI) over ① no catalyst, ② NC-180, ③ mixture of CdIn2S4, In(OH)3 and NiCr-LDH, ④ CIS-4, ⑤ HP-180-2, ⑥ HP-180-1, and ⑦ HP-180. (c) recyclability experiment of Cr(VI) photoreduction over HP-180; and (d) XRD curves of HP-180 before and after stability test.
Figure 8
Figure 8
(a) Nyquist plots of ① HP-190, ② HP-180, ③ HP-150, ④ HP-120, ⑤ CIS-4, ⑥ NC-180; (b) transient photocurrent spectra of HP-180, CIS-4 and NC-180; (c) photoluminescence spectra of CIS-4, NC-180, HP-180; and (d) Mott-Schottky plots of NC-180.
Scheme 1
Scheme 1
Illustration of the transfer process of the photo-excited charge carriers and plausible photocatalytic mechanism for H2 production and Cr(VI) reduction in the CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH heterostructure photocatalyst.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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