Incorporating ReS 2 Nanosheet into ZnIn 2 S 4 Nanoflower as Synergistic Z-Scheme Photocatalyst for Highly Effective and Stable Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution and Degradation.

Inspired by natural photosynthesis, the visible-light-driven Z-scheme system is very effective and promising for boosting photocatalytic hydrogen production and pollutant degradation. Here, a synergistic Z-scheme photocatalyst is constructed by coupling ReS 2 nanosheet and ZnIn 2 S 4 nanoflower and the experimental evidence for this direct Z-scheme heterostructure is provided by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance. Consequently, such a unique nanostructure makes this Z-scheme heterostructure exhibit 23.7 times higher photocatalytic hydrogen production than that of ZnIn 2 S 4 nanoflower. Moreover, the ZnIn 2 S 4 /ReS 2 photocatalyst is also very stable for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, almost without activity decay even storing for two weeks. Besides, this Z-scheme heterostructure also exhibits superior photocatalytic degradation rates of methylene blue (1.7 × 10 -2 min -1 ) and mitoxantrone (4.2 × 10 -3 min -1 ) than that of ZnIn 2 S 4 photocatalyst. The ultraviolet-visible absorption spectra, transient photocurrent spectra, open-circuit potential measurement, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy reveal that the superior photocatalytic performance of ZnIn 2 S 4 /ReS 2 heterostructure is mostly attributed to its broad and strong visible-light absorption, effective separation of charge carrier, and improved redox ability. This work provides a promising nanostructure design of a visible-light-driven Z-scheme heterostructure to simultaneously promote photocatalytic reduction and oxidation activity.