Morphology, structure and photocatalytic performance of ZnIn2S4 synthesized via a solvothermal/hydrothermal route in different solvents

Hexagonal ZnIn2S4 photocatalysts with different morphology and crystallinity (micro-structures) were prepared in aqueous-, methanol- and ethylene glycol-mediated conditions via a solvothermal/hydrothermal method. The aqueous- and methanol-mediated ZnIn2S4 presented to be Flowering-Cherry-like microsphere, while the ethylene glycol-mediated ZnIn2S4 presented to be micro-cluster. In comparison with two other products, aqueous-mediated ZnIn2S4 possessed the best crystallinity (micro-structure), which resulted in the highest photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution under visible-light irradiation. Additionally, aqueous-mediated ZnIn2S4 was found to be more stable than the other two ZnIn2S4 photocatalysts while undergoing the photocatalytic process. During the photocatalytic reaction, the average rates for hydrogen production over aqueous-, methanol- and ethylene glycol-mediated ZnIn2S4 were determined to be 27.3, 12.4 and 9.1 μmol h–1, respectively, in the present photocatalytic systems.