Non-noble metal Cu modification ZnIn2S4 driving efficient production H2 under visible light

Copper species have been extensively researched as effective cocatalysts for hydrogen evolution because of their inexpensive nature when compared to Pt. In this work, we have successfully loaded Cu nanoparticles highly dispersed on the surface of ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) by an always simple low-temperature vacuum reduction method, which significantly improved the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. According to the transient photocurrent (TPR) and PL results, when the mass fraction of Cu is 0.6%, the maximum photocurrent density is approximately 0.55 μA/cm2, which is 2.75 times that of ZIS. And the separation efficiency of the photogenerated carriers is the fastest at this point. Simultaneously, under visible light and with a Cu loading of 0.6% in the Cu/ZnIn2S4 (Cu/ZIS) composite material, the efficiency of hydrogen production is 6.56 times greater than that of pure ZIS, ultimately achieving an optimal value of 4.66 mmol/g/h. This study provides a new method for the preparation of photocatalysts with a high efficiency of electron-hole separation.