Construction of Z-scheme photocatalytic systems using ZnIn2S4, CoOx-loaded Bi2MoO6 and reduced graphene oxide electron mediator and its efficient nonsacrificial water splitting under visible light

- A Z-scheme photocatalytic system was constructed using ZIS, CoOx/BMO and RGO.
- A stoichiometric amount of H2 and O2 was obtained in the photocatalytic system.
- The appropriate amount of RGO is a key factor to ensure the electrons transport.
- Pt and CoOx are the indispensible factors as active sites for H2 and O2 generation.

In this paper, a Z-scheme photocatalytic system was successfully constructed using ZnIn2S4 (ZIS), CoOx-loaded Bi2MoO6 (CoOx/BMO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) as H2-evolving photocatalyst, O2-evolving photocatalyst and electron mediator, respectively. The material structures and chemical properties of the constructed Z-scheme photocatalyst were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The photocatalytic activity for water splitting over the Z-scheme photocatalytic systems has been investigated. The results indicated that they not only could steadily split water without any sacrificial agents injected under visible light irradiation, but also could achieve near stoichiometric amount of H2 and O2 for the constructed Z-scheme systems using RGO(3%)-CoOx/BMO as O2-evolving photocatalyst. The amount of H2 and O2 can reach 740.4 μmol·g−1 and 376.7 μmol·g−1 in 24 h. The mechanism for photocatalytic water splitting has been discussed in detail. In addition, the Pt and CoOx cocatalysts were also the indispensable main factors as the H2-evolving and O2-evolving active sites in the Z-scheme photocatalytic water splitting system.

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