Constructing cascade electric fields and sulfur vacancies in Ni3S4/NiS2/v-Zn3In2S6 photocatalyst for efficient degradation of contaminants and H2 production

The increasing environmental pollution and looming energy crisis necessitate the development of advanced photocatalysts that demonstrate efficient separation and transfer of the photo-generated holes and electrons, as well as multiple functions to address the above issues. Herein, a bifunctional Ni 3 S 4 /NiS 2/ v -Zn 3 In 2 S 6 photocatalyst has been constructed to degrade environmental hormones and antibiotics with simultaneous H 2 production. Sulfur vacancies have been engineered in the Zn 3 In 2 S 6 from a kinetic point of view to accelerate the separation of photogenerated charge carriers and act as active sites. Ni 3 S 4 and NiS 2 are introduced to construct cascade electric fields with Zn 3 In 2 S 6 via ohmic junctions for spatially separated charge carriers and reduced hydrogen evolution potential. As a result, the composite exhibits enhanced photocatalytic H 2 production and efficient degradation of bisphenol A, norfloxacin, and tetracycline, respectively. Specifically, the degradation pathways of BPA have been investigated based on Fukui calculations and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. This work may shed new light on the design and construction of dual-function photocatalysts for wastewater treatment and H 2 production.