In-MOF-derived In2S3/Bi2S3 heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production

Transition metal sulfides are commonly studied as photocatalysts for water splitting in solar-to-fuel conversion. However, the effectiveness of these photocatalysts is limited by the recombination and restricted light absorption capacity of carriers. In this paper, a broad spectrum responsive In₂S₃/Bi₂S₃ heterojunction is constructed by in-situ integrating Bi₂S₃ with the In₂S₃, derived from an In-MOF precursor, via the high-temperature sulfidation and solvothermal methods. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of wide-spectrum response, effective charge separation and transfer, and strong heterogeneous interfacial contacts, the In₂S₃/Bi₂S₃ heterojunction demonstrates a rate of 0.71 mmol/(g·h), which is 2.2 and 1.7 times as much as those of In₂S₃ (0.32 mmol/(g·h) and Bi₂S₃ (0.41 mmol/(g·h)), respectively. This paper provides a novel idea for rationally designing innovative heterojunction photocatalysts of transition metal sulfides for photocatalytic hydrogen production.