Photoassisted fabrication of zinc indium oxide/oxysulfide composite for enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution under visible-light irradiation.

A photoassisted approach has been developed to synthesize a zinc indium oxide (Zn5In2O8)/oxysulfide composite through in situ sulfuration of vacancy-rich Zn5In2O8. It was found that vacancies have a considerable impact on the formation of the composite. The composite exhibited an increased photocatalytic H2 evolution activity under visible-light irradiation, which probably resulted from the enhanced ability to separate photoinduced electrons and holes. The H2 evolution rate over the composite was about 17 times higher when using vacancy-rich rather than conventional Zn5In2O8. This study provides a new method of improving the activity of photocatalysts.