Ultrathin 2D/2D ZnIn2S4/MoS2 hybrids for boosted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light

A well-connected hetero-layered ZnIn2S4/MoS2 composite was fabricated via an electrostatic self-assembly process to boost photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible-light irradiation. Ultrathin nanosheets contribute to efficient charge transfer by reducing electron diffusion length. In the sheet-on-sheet heterostructure, ultrathin ZnIn2S4 nanosheets (NSs) and MoS2 NSs were well connected with each other to form a large and intimate contact interface, which features an efficient separation and migration of photoinduced charge carriers. Moreover, MoS2 NSs endow the composite with abundant active sites and lowers its overpotential for water reduction. Consequently, the ultrathin hetero-layered ZnIn2S4/MoS2 composite with optimized loading of MoS2 achieves a hydrogen production rate of 4.974 mmol g−1 h−1, which is ca. 50 times as much as that of pure ZnIn2S4, and 2.2 times as much as that of its ZnIn2S4/Pt counterpart. This work provides inspiration for the fabrication of well-contacted hetero-layered structure for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. [Display omitted] •Ultrathin ZnIn2S4 and MoS2 nanosheets were used to fabricate 2D/2D heterostructure. (85 characters).•The sheet-on-sheet structure with large and imitate contact was achieved. (75 characters).•Improved charge separation and reduced potential for H2 generation were verified. (83 characters).•2D/2D ZnIn2S4/MoS2 exhibited higher photocatalytic activity than ZnIn2S4/Pt. (78 characters).