Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of SnO 2 @ZnIn 2 S 4 Composites for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

This research successfully synthesized SnO 2 @ZnIn 2 S 4 composites for photocatalytic tap water splitting using a rapid two-step microwave-assisted synthesis method. This study investigated the impact of incorporating a fixed quantity of SnO 2 nanoparticles and combining them with various materials to form composites, aiming to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen production. Additionally, different weights of SnO 2 nanoparticles were added to the ZnIn 2 S 4 reaction precursor to prepare SnO 2 @ZnIn 2 S 4 composites for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Notably, the photocatalytic efficiency of SnO 2 @ZnIn 2 S 4 composites is substantially higher than that of pure SnO 2 nanoparticles and ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheets: 17.9-fold and 6.3-fold, respectively. The enhancement is credited to the successful use of visible light and the facilitation of electron transfer across the heterojunction, leading to the efficient dissociation of electron-hole pairs. Additionally, evaluations of recyclability demonstrated the remarkable longevity of SnO 2 @ZnIn 2 S 4 composites, maintaining high levels of photocatalytic hydrogen production over eight cycles without significant efficiency loss, indicating their impressive durability. This investigation presents a promising strategy for crafting and producing environmentally sustainable SnO 2 @ZnIn 2 S 4 composites with prospective implementations in photocatalytic hydrogen generation.