Characterization of CQDs/ZnIn2S4 Composite Photocatalyst and Photocatalytic Performance for Hydrogen Production
Full article
| Journal |
Journal of Materials Science
ISSN: 0022-2461
, E-ISSN: 1573-4803
|
| Output data |
Year: 2026,
DOI:
10.1007/s10853-025-12070-3
|
| Authors |
Gong Yuyi
1
,
Zhang Kai
1
,
Taran Oxana P.
2,3,4
,
Sun Fubao
5
,
Yan Hong
1
,
Li Fen
1
|
| Affiliations |
| 1 |
School of Material Science and Chemical Engineering, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin, 150080, China
|
| 2 |
Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technology SB RAS, FRC “Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS”, Akademgorodok 50/24, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, 660036
|
| 3 |
Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals, Siberian Federal University, Pr. Svobodny 79, Krasnoyarsk, Russia, 660041
|
| 4 |
Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB Ras, Pr.Akad. Lavrentiev 5, Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090
|
| 5 |
Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
|
|
Funding (2)
|
1
|
National Natural Science Foundation of China
|
22278099
|
|
2
|
National Natural Science Foundation of China
|
U23A20135
|
In this study, lignin-based carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were prepared by a one-step hydrothermal method using alkaline lignin as the carbon source and then further combined with ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst to construct a series of CQDs-X/ZnIn2S4 composite photocatalyst. The experimental results indicated that when the loading amount of CQDs was 20 mL, the composite material exhibited the best photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. Structural characterization revealed that CQDs with a size of 4–6 nm were successfully modified on the surface of flower-like ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst microspheres assembled by nanosheets, forming a tight heterostructure. Optical and electrochemical tests confirmed that the introduction of CQDs effectively broadened the light absorption range, adjusted the band structure and significantly promoted the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers, while reducing the charge recombination rate. In addition, compared with pure ZnIn2S4 (48.18 m2·g−1), CQDs-20/ZnIn2S4 has a relatively larger specific surface of 79.33 m2·g−1, providing more active sites. This study demonstrated that the composite strategy based on lignin CQDs could significantly enhance the photocatalytic performance of ZnIn2S4 photocatalyst, providing an effective approach for the high-value utilization of lignin and solar hydrogen production.