Facile fabrication of the Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S/ZnIn 2 S 4 S-scheme heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production and tetracycline degradation

Improving the photo -induced charge separation efficiency is an important route for enhancing the photocatalytic performance of ZnIn 2 S 4 . In this research, an S -scheme heterojunction comprising ZnIn 2 S 4 and Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S was successfully formed using a facile oil -bath method followed by a subsequent hydrothermal process. The Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S/ZnIn 2 S 4 composites displayed enhanced photocatalytic activities during H 2 generation and tetracycline (TC) degradation. Among the composite materials, the Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S/ZnIn 2 S 4 -20 wt% hybrid nanomaterial demonstrates a superior visible -light hydrogen evolution rate of 780 mu mol g - 1 & sdot;h - 1 and a TC degradation activity of 98% with excellent reusability, which are nearly 5.77 and 5.76 times greater than those of ZnIn 2 S 4 , respectively. The significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance of the Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S/ZnIn 2 S 4 hybrids can be ascribed to the well -designed S -scheme heterojunction. This design accelerates interfacial charge separation, increases the specific surface area, and broadens the visible light response range. This research paves the way for developing ZnIn 2 S 4 -based dual -function systems with greatly improved charge separation, leading to high -efficiency photocatalytic activity.