Mo-Doped ZnIn2S4 Flower-Like Hollow Microspheres for Improved Visible Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution

Designing robust visible light-driven photocatalysts in terms of the structure and component is an important way for achieving efficient solar hydrogen production. Herein, Mo-doped ZnIn2S4 (M-ZIS) flower-like hollow microspheres assembled by ultrathin nanosheets are reported. The as-prepared M-ZIS samples achieve an enhanced H-2 generation rate of 4.62 mmol g(-1) h(-1) under visible light, ten times higher than that of pristine ZIS. The 3D hollow microspheres structure assembled by nanosheets ensures sufficient light harvesting and exposure of more active sites. Meanwhile, the doping of Mo is propitious to regulate the chemical characteristic and electronic structure of ZIS in the merit of ameliorated hydrophilicity, extended light adsorption, accelerated transfer-separation efficiency of charge carriers, as well as the reduced overpotential of H-2 evolution. This model is put forward to obtain an in-depth understanding of the role that both the 3D hollow hierarchical structure and doping atoms play in photocatalytic water splitting.