Uniform-embeddable-distributed Ni3S2 cocatalyst inside and outside a sheet-like ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The rational cocatalyst design is considered a significant route to boost the solar-energy conversion efficiency for photocatalytic H₂ generation. However, the traditional cocatalyst-loading on the surface of a photocatalyst easily leads to scarce exposed active sites induced by the agglomeration of cocatalysts and a hindrance of the light absorption of the photocatalyst, thus significantly limiting the enhancement of the photocatalytic H₂-generation performance. Herein, a new concept of uniform-embeddable-distributed cocatalysts is put forward. Consequently, uniform-embeddable-distributed cocatalysts of Ni₃S₂ were designed and constructed inside and outside of the nanosheet-like ZnIn₂S₄ photocatalyst to form a Ni₃S₂/ZnIn₂S₄ binary system (UEDNiS/ZIS). The unique uniform-embeddable-distributed Ni₃S₂ cocatalyst (UEDNiS) could provide abundant exposed active sites, facilitate the spatial separation and ordered transfer of charges inside and outside of ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets, and reduce the hydrogen-adsorption free energy for photocatalytic H₂-generation reactions. As a result, UEDNiS/ZIS exhibited a high photocatalytic H₂-generation rate of 60 μmol h^-1 under visible-light irradiation, almost 7.8 and 2.8 times higher than pristine ZnIn₂S₄ and the traditional surface-loaded Ni₃S₂/ZnIn₂S₄ (TSLNiS/ZIS), respectively. This work represents a new cocatalyst-design approach to realize high-efficiency hydrogen evolution in binary heterostructured photocatalytic systems.

Multi-stepwise electron transfer via MOF-based nanocomposites for photocatalytic ammonia synthesis

Photocatalytic ammonia (NH3) synthesis can realize the reaction of nitrogen (N2) and water by using solar energy as the sole driving force under mild conditions, however, the inferior electron transfer...

Flower-Like Superstructures: Structural Features, Applications and Future Perspectives

Mimicking natural objects such as flowers, is an objective of scientists not only because of their attractive appearance, but also to understand the natural phenomena that underpin real world applications such as drug delivery, enzymatic reactions, electronics, and catalysis, to name few. This article reviews the types, preparation methods, and structural features of flower-like structures along with their key applications in various fields. We discuss the various types of flower-like structures composed of inorganic, organic-inorganic hybrid, inorganic-protein, inorganic-enzyme and organic compositions. We also discuss recent development in flower-like structures prepared by self-assembly approaches. Finally, we conclude our review with the future prospects of flower-like micro-structures in key fields, being biomedicine, sensing and catalysis.