Fabrication of 1D/2D Y-doped CeO2/ZnIn2S4 S-scheme photocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution

The construction of well-defined heterojunction structure is considered to be an effective way to improve the efficiency of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. One-dimensional(1D) Y-doped CeO2 nanorods/two-dimensional (2D) ZnIn2S4 S-scheme heterojunction composite was prepared via hydrothermal and solvothermal method. When the mass ratio of Y-doped CeO2 to ZnIn2S4 is 10 %, the composite exhibits the highest hydrogen evolution rate of 857 μmol·g−1·h−1 under visible light irradiation, which is obviously better than pure Y-doped CeO2 and ZnIn2S4 respectively. Meanwhile, transient photocurrent spectra, photoluminescence (PL) spectra and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy（EIS）measurement indicate that the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes in the composites is higher. Finally, the S-scheme heterojunction mechanism is determined through UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS), VB-XPS spectrum, electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) spectra and energy band structure analysis. This study may provide an effective S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution applications.