Visible light photocatalytic H2-production activity of epitaxial Cu2ZnSnS4/ZnS heterojunction

• Cu2ZnSnS4/ZnS composite is a promising visible light photocatalyst for H2 evolution.
• Cu2ZnSnS4 is a potential and effective co-catalyst for promoting visible light response.
• Lattice matching strategy may provide an effective approach for developing novel composites.

Novel visible light driven photocatalyst Cu2ZnSnS4/ZnS composites were prepared by two-step hydrothermal method. The two semiconductors in the composites are lattice-matched and form close contact between them. With 0.1% Cu2ZnSnS4 grew on ZnS surface, the composite exhibits a high and stable visible light photocatalytic H2 generation of 432 μmolg− 1 h− 1. This excellent visible light activity could be attributed to the enhancement of visible light absorption by surfacial modification of ZnS with CZTS and the photoinduced interfacial charge transfer from the valence band of ZnS to Cu2ZnSnS4 in the close contact interface.

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