Recent Advances in Nanoscale Engineering of Ternary Metal Sulfide-Based Heterostructures for Photocatalytic Water Splitting Applications

Abstract

Ternary metal sulfides (TMSs) have been widely documented as an important subgroup of semiconducting materials in solar water splitting into hydrogen (H2) fuel. Recently, interest has been rekindled in this specific branch of chalcogenide materials, particularly in the opportune integration of indium-based TMSs with emerging materials such as MXenes, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), carbon quantum dots (CQDs), carbon nanofibers (CNFs), and metal-like Mo2C for various nanoscale heterojunction formations. In this mini review, recent outstanding advances of TMS-based heterostructures are concisely reviewed. Following an overview of the fundamental rationales of photocatalytic water splitting, a panorama of different indium-based TMSs (ZnIn2S4, CdIn2S4, and CaIn2S4) and their heterostructures (Z-scheme, conventional heterojunction, and Schottky junction) are outlined and discussed in terms of mechanistic insights and water splitting application prospects. On top of that, investigations of other burgeoning TMS-based heterostructures are carried out, followed by recommendations on future prospects of emerging TMS-based materials and the key challenges in practical water splitting. It is believed that this critical mini review is timely to bring new advances of TMS-based heterostructures and acts as a reference toward future endeavors in developing highly efficient and stable photocatalytic systems for H2 generation.

Mixed Metal Sulfides for the Application of Photocatalytic Energy Conversion

“…Benefiting from narrow bandgaps, most metal sulfides are easily excited by visible light, but they suffer from the drawback of annihilation of electrons and holes, which suppresses photocatalytic efficiency. Many of the recent researches focus on strategies to enhance the dissociation of electrons and holes, and there are several excellent review articles on the modifications and applications for metal sulfides. − For example, Wang et al provided a detailed description of nanostructured metal sulfides and their applications to photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. Mixed metal sulfides and their electrochemical application in energy storage and conversion were summarized by Yu et al For a specific metal sulfide, such as ZnIn 2 S 4 , the applications in the energy and environment fields for ZnIn 2 S 4 -based photocatalysts were also summarized .…”

Raspberry-like AgBiS2@PVP nanoparticles for enhanced sonodynamic and chemodynamic cancer therapy

“…32,33 Ternary metal sulfides are produced by the addition of a metal element to binary sulfide. 34,35 They generate abnormal defects between the valence and conduction bands of NPs, thereby adjusting the band gap of the NPs and improving the concentration of carriers to control the recombination of electron-hole pairs. Therefore, these free electrons and holes can fully react with the water or oxygen molecules in the tissues and promote the production of ROS.…”

Boosting Separation of Charge Carriers in 2D/0D BiOBr Nanoflower Sheets/BN Quantum Dots with the Lorentz Force via Magnetic Field

“…Taking the internal driving force as an example, the major way is to build an internal electric field such as p−n junctions, Schottky junctions, and band structure alignment to improve the separation and transfer of electrons and holes. 32,33 For the application of an external driving force, the common methods are using an ultrasound field, a thermal field, an electrode, and so on. 34 For instance, the electrode is regarded as the photoelectrochemical process (PEC).…”

“…Nowadays, using photocatalytic degradation technology to get rid of TC by semiconductor photocatalysts is a good way that attracts many researchers’ interest. − Under sunlight irradiation, semiconductor photocatalysts can produce electrons and holes to degrade the TC into inorganic substances, which is considered a green technology. , However, the fast recombination of light-induced charge carriers suppresses the utilization of carriers, thus leading to a low reaction efficiency. , To minimize the recombination rate of carriers and maximize the utilization, the primary approach is to apply an internal or external driving force. Taking the internal driving force as an example, the major way is to build an internal electric field such as p–n junctions, Schottky junctions, and band structure alignment to improve the separation and transfer of electrons and holes. , For the application of an external driving force, the common methods are using an ultrasound field, a thermal field, an electrode, and so on . For instance, the electrode is regarded as the photoelectrochemical process (PEC).…”