Elevating dual-redox photocatalysis with p-n junction: Hydrangea-like Zn3In2S6 nanoflowers coupled hexagonal Co3O4 for cooperative hydrogen and benzaldehyde production
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Despite advances in photocatalytic half-reduction reactions, challenges remain in effectively utilizing electron-hole pairs in concurrent redox processes. The present study involved the construction of a p-n junction Co 3 O 4 /Zn 3 In 2 S 6 (CoZ) hybrid with a complementary band edge potential. The photocatalyst formed by the 2D assembled-nanostructure portrayed an optimal yield of 13.8 (H 2 ) and 13.1 (benzaldehyde) mmol g −1 h −1 when exposed to light ( λ > 420 nm), surpassing 1 % Pt-added ZIS (12.4 (H 2 ) and 10.71 (benzaldehyde) mmol g −1 h −1 ). Around 95 % of the electron-hole utilization rate was achieved. The solar-to-hydrogen (STH) and apparent quantum yield (AQY) values of 0.466 % and 4.96 % (420 nm) achieved by this system in the absence of sacrificial agents exceeded those of previous works. The exceptional performance was mostly ascribed to the synergistic development of adjoining p-n heterojunctions and the built-in electric field for effective charge separation. Moreover, scavenger studies elucidated the intricate mechanistic enigma of the dual-redox process, in which benzaldehyde was produced via O-H activation and subsequent C-H cleavage of benzyl alcohol over CoZ hybrids. Furthermore, the widespread use of the optimal 1-CoZ composites was confirmed in multiple photoredox systems. This work presents an innovative perspective on the construction of dual-functioning p-n heterojunctions for practical photoredox applications.
Source: Nano Materials Science
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Funders: Agilent Technologies, PETRONAS, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia, Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Xiamen University, PETRONAS Research Sdn Bhd, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Xiamen University, Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province
OpenAlex ID: W4408321453