Ni-MOF-74-derived ZnIn2S4/P-Ni-MOF-74 Z-scheme heterojunctions for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation

The construction of efficient Z-scheme heterojunctions is considered as a promising approach to improve the transfer and separation of photogenerated carries in the field of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water splitting. Herein, a novel ZnIn2S4/P-Ni-MOF-74 with Z-scheme heterostructure is successfully fabricated from rhombic P-Ni-MOF-74 derived from Ni-MOF-74 through phosphorization treatment and ZnIn2S4 flakes via a hydrothermal method. The Z-scheme ZnIn2S4/P-Ni-MOF-74 heterojunctions can provide abundant active centers, broaden the response range to visible light region, accelerate the transfer of interfacial charges, and suppress the recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. As a result, ZnIn2S4/P-Ni-MOF-74 (20 wt% P-Ni-MOF-74) acquires a hydrogen production rate of 7865.31 μmol g−1 h−1, which is 4.46 times higher than that of ZnIn2S4. An apparent quantum yield is 7.84% at 420 nm wavelength. Overall, this work may provide a new pathway for the rational design of efficient Z-scheme heterojunctions with photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.