Hierarchical CdInS microspheres wrapped by mesoporous g-CN ultrathin nanosheets with enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic reduction activity.

In this investigation, a series of hierarchical CdInS/g-CN nanocomposites were firstly synthesized by a facile one-pot hydrothermal strategy, wherein the mesoporous g-CN nanosheets were in-situ self-wrapped onto CdInS nanosheets. Systematic characterization by XRD, FT-IR, UV-vis DRS, SEM, TEM, HAAF-STEM, XPS, photoelectrochemical tests were employed to analyze the phase structure, chemical composition, morphology and photocatalytic mechanism. The application, including photo-redox reaction and photocatalytic water splitting, were used to estimate the photocatalytic activity of as-obtained CdInS/g-CN nanocomposites. The results indicate that CdInS/g-CN heterostructures exhibit more efficient improvement of the photocatalytic performances towards photo-reduction of 4-NA to corresponding 4-PDA and photocatalytic H generation from water splitting than these counterparts as results of construction of intimate interfacial contact, which would promote the separation of photo-generated holes and electrons. Meanwhile, benefitting from the excellent surface wrap, the CdInS/g-CN nanocomposites possess notable enhanced photocatalytic stability. This research may provide a promising way to fabricate highly efficient photocatalysts with excellent stability and expand the application of CdInS in fine chemical engineering.