In2S3/CuS nanosheet composite: An excellent visible light photocatalyst for H2 production from H2S

As hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a toxic chemical emitted in large quantities from both natural sources and industrial processes, resource utilization of H2S has become a hotspot research in recent years. We report herein, synthesis and characterization of a highly active In2S3/CuS nanosheet composite photocatalyst via a facile one-pot solvothermal route. The as-obtained In2S3/CuS composite show a special hierarchical structure and remarkable visible light absorption ability with an absorption edge of 785 nm. Its remarkable light absorption ability enables it to fully absorb the visible light. The as-obtained In2S3/CuS composite exhibits a superior visible-light photocatalytic activity and long-term durability in H2S splitting. As a result, a maximum H2 production rate of 14950 μmol g−1 h−1 over In2S3/CuS composite has been achieved even without any noble metal co-catalysts, which is 404 and 87 fold higher than that of over bare β-In2S3 and Cu9S5, respectively. The corresponding apparent quantum yield (AQY) of In2S3/CuS at 420 nm is 9.3%. The excellent photocatalytic activity depends on the chemical structure, phase, optical nature and folded nanosheet like geometry of In2S3/CuS composite, which facilitated electron transfer between interfaces of β-In2S3 and CuS, and improved the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Therefore, In2S3/CuS composite could serve as an efficient and practical visible-light response photocatalyst for H2 production from toxic and corrosive H2S.