ZnIn2S4 modified CaTiO3 nanocubes with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen performance

Abstract Novel ZnIn2S4/CaTiO3 nanocubes were prepared by a two-step method and used as a visible light photocatalyst for efficient hydrogen production. The control of the content of CaTiO3 could effectively change the photocatalytic H2 production activity of ZnIn2S4/CaTiO3 nanocubes, and the maximum H2 evolution amount reached to 133116.43 μmol g−1 in 6 h. The photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency of ZnIn2S4/CaTiO3 nanocubes was almost 4.5 times higher than that of pure ZnIn2S4. The electrochemical impedance spectrum of ZnIn2S4/CaTiO3 exhibited the smallest arc radius, time-resolved PL spectrum showed that the carrier lifetime of ZnIn2S4/CaTiO3 nanocubes was 3.29 ns, and the photocurrent density of ZnIn2S4/CaTiO3 reached to 0.81 μA cm−2. The prepared ZnIn2S4/CaTiO3 nanocubes increased visible light absorption, improved the separation and transfer of photo-generated electrons and holes, and inhibited the recombination of photo-generated electron-hole pairs. ZnIn2S4/CaTiO3 nanocubes exhibited the enhanced photocatalytic activity and high stability, and could be used as promising photocatalyst for hydrogen production application.