Controlled growth of "cookie-like" ZnIn2S4 nanoparticles on g-C3N4 for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

Novel composite photocatalysts comprising ZnIn2S4 and graphitic carbon nitride (ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4) in various ratios were prepared by solvothermal method controlled growth. The resulted composite photocatalysts of ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 were carefully identified, with their photocatalytic behavior analyzed through probing with colorless antibiotic metronidazole. The ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 photocatalysts show greater photocatalytic performance obviously under exposure to the radiation of visible light. Upon combination with g-C3N4, the photostability of ZnIn2S4 nanoparticles are substantially enhanced even in a non-sacrificial system. The as-prepared ZnIn2S4/g-C3N4 composites exhibit excellent behavior photocatalytically and the interactivity between ZnIn2S4 and g-C3N4 is to credit for the improvement of the separating photogenerated holes and electrons.