Synergy of photothermal effect and up-converted property of phytic acid nickel for boosted photothermal-assisted NIR-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

• Published in: Chemical engineering journal (Lausanne, Switzerland : 1996) Vol. 474; p. 145611
• Main Authors: Shi, Weilong, Chen, Zhouze, Lu, Jialin, Shi, Yuxing, Zhang, Tiancai, Guo, Feng, Chen, Lizhuang, Du, Xin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.10.2023
• Subjects: Near-infrared; Photocatalytic H2 production; Photothermal-assisted; Phytic acid nickel; ZnIn2S4; Photocatalytic H2 production; Photothermal-assisted; Phytic acid nickel; ZnIn2S4; Near-infrared
• ISSN: 1385-8947; 1873-3212
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.145611

•PA-Ni converts NIR into Vis light, broadening the light absorption range of ZIS.•Photothermal effect of PA-Ni increased the temperature of the PA-Ni/ZIS composite system.•Sandwich structure of PA-Ni/ZIS for enhanced photothermal-assisted photocatalytic activity. A huge challenge in the field of photocatalysis is the efficient utilization of near-infrared (NIR) light, which accounts for the vast majority of solar spectrum (∼53%). Herein, phytic acid nickel (PA-Ni) nanoparticles were anchored on ZnIn2S4 nanosheets to form PA-Ni/ZnIn2S4 (PA-Ni/ZIS) composite by a simple water bath method for achieving photothermal-assisted photocatalytic H2 evolution under NIR irradiation. In this photothermal-assisted catalyst design system, the photothermal effect and up-conversion characteristics of the PA-Ni complex increased the temperature of the reaction system, promoted the separation and migration of ZIS photogenerated carrier charges, and expand the NIR photo-absorption of ZIS. Meanwhile, the unique sandwich structure formed by ZIS micro-flowers with PA-Ni nanoparticles further increased the temperature of the composite for endowing the excellent NIR-driven photocatalytic H2 activity with the hydrogen production rate of 33.02 μmol g-1h−1. Our work provides a viable design strategy for realizing photothermal-assisted NIR photocatalytic H2 production.