Hierarchical NiCoS/ZnInS heterostructured prisms: High-efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen production under visible-light.

Exploring low-cost co-catalyst to ameliorate the photocatalytic activity of semiconductors sets a clear direction for solving energy crisis and achieving efficient solar-chemical energy conversion. In this work, a unique hierarchical hollow heterojunction was constructed by in-situ growing ZnInS nanosheets on the porous NiCoS hollow prisms through a low temperature solvothermal method, in which NiCoS with semi-metal property acted as non-noble metal co-catalyst. NiCoS co-catalyst was innovatively encapsulated in ZnInS, which not only relieved the light shielding effect caused by the large loading amount of co-catalyst, but also supplied abundant active sites for H evolution. The hierarchical hollow heterostructure of NiCoS/ZnInS provided a highly efficient channel for charge transfer. Combining these advantages, NiCoS/ZnInS composite demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activity. In the absence of sacrificial agent, the NiCoS/ZnInS photocatalyst achieved a remarkable improved H yield of 0.77 mmol gh under visible light irradiation (λ > 400 nm), which is 6.6 times greater than that of ZnInS. Besides, NiCoS even exhibited better performance on the H evolution improvement of ZnInS than precious metal Pt. This work will offer novel insights into the reasonable design of non-noble metal photocatalysts with respectable activity for water splitting.