Mo-W18O49/ZnIn2S4 Composites Synthesized by Metal Doping for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Utilizing two or more semiconductor materials with distinct geometric and electronic energy arrangements at the nanoscale to construct heterostructures is an important means for developing high-performance catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this study, ZnIn2S4 serves as the primary catalyst carrier, while Mo-W18O49 functions as the cocatalyst supported on the surface of ZnIn2S4. A series of ZnIn2S4/Mo-W18O49 heterojunction composite materials were synthesized through a straightforward hydrothermal method. The ZnIn2S4/Mo-W18O49 photocatalyst demonstrates exceptional photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity. Notably, with a Mo-W18O49 loading of 10%, the photocatalyst achieves optimal hydrogen evolution, yielding 2592.8 μmol g−1, which is 31 times greater than that of pure ZnIn2S4. Further characterized results of the samples showed that loading Mo-W18O49 with an appropriate mass ratio on ZnIn2S4 can increase the electron transfer rate, which facilitates reducing the recombination probability of photo-generated electrons and holes, thus improving hydrogen evolution efficiency.