Fabrication of ZnO/CuInS2 heterojunction for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen production

ZnO/CuInS2 composites were synthesized by using electrospun ZnO chain structures as a template, along with InCl3, CuCl2, and thiourea as sources of indium, copper, and sulphur, respectively. The ZnO/CuInS2 core-shell structure enhances light absorption and carrier transport efficiency. Moreover, ZnO/CuInS2 exhibits superior light absorption and photocatalytic hydrogen production performance compared to ZnO, with a peak hydrogen production of 4188.24 μmol g−1. The arrangement of energy levels within the ZnO/CuInS2 heterojunction is the crucial factor in enhancing photocatalytic properties. Increased electrons distribution near the interface facilitates the transport performance of charge carriers, which accelerates hydrogen production kinetics at the interface, and promotes greater participation of photogenerated electrons and holes in catalytic reactions. Combined with the application of density functional theory, the computational analyses of work function and differential charge support this assertion. This paper introduces a fresh method for creating innovative photocatalysts and grasping the reaction mechanism involved in photocatalytic hydrogen generation.