ZIF-8-Supported AgInS2 Quantum Dots for Photocatalytic H2 Production by Precise Location Sulfurization

Although quantum dots (QDs) have unique properties that are different from conventional semiconductors, their photocatalytic activity and stability are far from expectations, and the preparation of semiconductor composites has become an important means to improve their photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. A convenient and safe coordination-assisted self-assembly method was used to encapsulate QDs into metal–organic frameworks and further formed AgInS2@ZIF-8/ZnS nanostructures by converting part of ZIF-8 into ZnS composite materials, which enhanced their photocatalytic hydrogen production performance and cycling stability. The results show that AgInS2@ZIF-8/ZnS nanocomposites have the highest photocatalytic activity (the average hydrogen production reaches 9.79 mmol·g–1·h–1; λ > 420 nm) after 6 h of sulfurization, which is far greater than that of AgInS2 QDs. Compared with the AgInS2@ZIF-8 composite, their performance is improved by nearly 10 times. In conclusion, a simple, safe, and easily-controllable method is used to prepare a novel and efficient photocatalytic material, which provides a new idea about the rational design of novel QD photocatalytic composites.