Dual p-n Z-scheme heterostructure boosted superior photoreduction CO to CO, CH and CH in InS/MnO/BiOCl photocatalyst.

The creation of a Z-scheme heterojunction is a sophisticated strategy to enhance photocatalytic efficiency. In our study, we synthesized an InS/MnO/BiOCl dual Z-scheme heterostructure by growing BiOCl nanoplates on the sheets of InS nanoflowers, situated on the surface of MnO nanowires. This synthesis involved a combination of hydrothermal and solution combustion methods. Experiments and density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrated that the InS/MnO/BiOCl composite exhibited notable photo reduction performance and photocatalytic stability. This was attributed to the pivotal roles of BiOCl and MnO in the composite, acting as auxiliaries to enhance the electronic structure and facilitate the adsorption/activation capacity of CO and HO. The yield rates of CO, CH, and CH over InS/MnO/BiOCl as the catalyst were 3.94, 5.5, and 3.64 times higher than those of pure InS, respectively. Photoelectrochemical analysis revealed that the dual Z-scheme heterostructure, with its oxygen vacancies and large surface area, enhanced CO absorption and active sites on the nanoflower/nanowire intersurfaces. Consequently, the dual Z-scheme charge transfer pathway provided efficient channels for boosting electron transfer and charge separation, resulting in high CH, CH, and CO yields of formed and exihibits an promising photoreduction rate of CO to CO (51.2 µmol/g.h), CH (42.4 µmol/g.h) and CH (63.2 µmol/g.h), respectively. DFT, in situ Diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed desorption tests were employed to verify the intermediates pathway. The study proposed a potential photocatalytic mechanism based on these findings.