Anchoring ZnIn2S4 nanosheets on ultrathin boron carbon nitride layers for improved photo-redox catalysis

Ultrathin boron carbon nitride (BCN) nanosheets as fascinating candidates for advanced photocatalysis have aroused broad attention due to their highly stable physicochemical characteristics and potential chemical reaction carriers. However, its catalytic efficiency is ultimately limited by the sluggish kinetics of surface/interfacial photoexcitation charges and visible photons absorption. Herein, we report the exquisite design and construction of hierarchically layered heterostructures BCN-ZnIn2S4 that involve solution-processed surface growth of ZnIn2S4 subunits on the ultrathin sheet-shaped BCN nanostructures. The intimate interface contact of BCN and ZnIn2S4 architectures accelerate the separation/mobility of light-induced charges, as well as provides more active sites. In addition, the highly visible light response of the ZnIn2S4 component resulting from a suitable bandgap structure is favourable to the effective visible photons adsorption and utilization. The optimized BCN-ZnIn2S4 composite remarkably enhanced the photo-redox efficiency in the reductive CO2 deoxygenation (CO-releasing rate of 38.6 μmol h−1) and oxidative aromatic alcohols dehydrogenation (conversion of 81.6%) under visible light, which is 386-fold and 2-fold enhance performance compared to the pristine ultrathin BCN nanosheets, respectively.