Creation of Interfacial S4–Sn–N2 Electron Pathways for Efficient Light‐Driven Hydrogen Evolution

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 20; no. 29; pp. e2310664 - n/a
• Main Authors: Yin, Yihang, Xiang, Peng, Zhou, Yujie, Meng, Huiyuan, Xiao, Xudong, Shao, Yugui, Zhang, Xinxin, Zhou, Jing, Li, Qi, Guo, Chuanyu, Ma, Xuena, Zhang, Luoming, Zhang, Liping, Zhang, Qun, Jiang, Baojiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2024
• Subjects: C3N4; Catalytic activity; Charge transfer; Current carriers; electron transfer pathway; heterojunction; Heterojunctions; Hydrogen evolution; Hydrogen production; Photocatalysis; Pyrolysis; SnS2; Tin disulfide; Vulcanization
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202310664

Establishing effective charge transfer channels between two semiconductors is key to improving photocatalytic activity. However, controlling hetero‐structures in situ and designing binding modes pose significant challenges. Herein, hydrolytic SnCl2·2H2O is selected as the metal source and loaded in situ onto a layered carbon nitriden supramolecular precursor. A composite photocatalyst, S4–Sn–N2, with electron pathways of SnS2 and tubular carbon nitriden (TCN) is prepared through pyrolysis and vulcanization processes. The contact interface of SnS2–TCN is increased significantly, promoting the formation of S4–Sn–N2 micro‐structure in a Z‐scheme charge transfer channel. This structure accelerates the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers, maintains the stronger redox ability, and improves the stability of SnS2 in this series of heterojunctions. Therefore, the catalyst demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency, achieving a reaction rate of 86.4 µmol h−1, which is 3.15 times greater than that of bare TCN. The picture shows SnS2 nanosheet loaded on carbon nitride nanotube (SnS2–TCN). The molecular structure of partially amplified catalyst shows that S4–Sn–N2 electron transport pathways is formed between the interface of SnS2 and TCN. In addition, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution process using lactic acid as sacrificial reagent SnS2–TCN is also introduced.