Efficient ZnO1-xSx composites from the Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6 precursor for the H2 production by photocatalysis

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 113; pp. 43 - 51
• Main Authors: Aguilar-Martínez, Octavio, Hernández-Gordillo, Agileo, Pérez-Hernández, Raúl, Acevedo-Peña, Próspero, Arrieta-Castañeda, Alma, Gómez, Ricardo, Tzompantzi, Francisco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2017
• Subjects: H2 production; Hydrozincite; Solvothermal; ZnO1-xSx composite; H2 production; ZnO1-xSx composite; Hydrozincite; Solvothermal
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.05.049

ZnO1-xSx (x = 0.2, 0.5, 0.7, and 1.0) composites were prepared from the hydrozincite precursor (Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6) as Zn source by sulfidation during the solvothermal treatment using thiourea as sulfur source at different molar ratio. The sulfurized composites were characterized by XRD, FTIR, TGA, SEM-EDS, N2 physisorption, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence. Additionally, photocatalysts were deposited onto ITO coated supports to perform their photoelectrochemical characterization. The sulfurized samples were composed of cubic-ZnO and cubic-ZnS with proportions close to the theoretical ones, given a ZnO1-xSx heterostructures. Mesoporous composites with large specific surface area (up to 207 m2 g−1) were obtained. All the obtained composites were evaluated in the production of H2 from a MetOH-water solution and UV light. The photocatalytic stability of the best composite was also evaluated for five reaction cycles. The photocatalytic properties of the ZnO1-xSx composite is explained as a function of the generation capacity of electron-hole pairs when the photocalyst is illuminated jointly with the charge transfer resistance of photocatalysts in a methanol-water solution. [Display omitted] •ZnO1-xSx composites were synthesized by the solvothermal method from hydrozincite.•ZnO1-xSx composites showed photoactivity for H2 production from MetOH-water.•Sulfidation of the mineral hydrozincite induced active sites for H2 production.•Mesoporous ZnO1-xSx composites with high specific area (>108 m2 g−1) were obtained.