Preparation of NaInS2 with Hierarchical Nanostructure toward Visible Light-induced H2 Production

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water splitting with semiconductor materials has received intense attention due to its potential to address important energy and environmental problems. In this work, we reported the facile preparation of NaInS2 photocatalyst with hierarchical nanostructure using solvothermal method. The as-prepared NaInS2 photocatalyst was extensively characterized with X-ray powder diffraction, UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the as-prepared NaInS2 was composed of numerous interconnected nanoplates with thickness of around 100 nm. Reaction parameters such as the synthesis temperature and duration were found to be crucial for the formation of crystalline NaInS2. Moreover, ethylene glycol played an important role in tuning NaInS2 with hierarchical nanostructure. The as-prepared hierarchical NaInS2 photocatalyst demonstrated strong absorption in the visible region and appreciable activity for the photocatalytic H-2 production from water splitting under visible light irradiation (lambda>420 nm).