Carbon-ensemble-manipulated ZnS heterostructures for enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution

In this paper, we demonstrate a facile design of ZnS-based heterostructures tailored by versatile glucose-derived carbon ensembles, including carbon dots (CDs) and thin carbon shells, via hydrothermal synthesis. Tuning the content of glucose allows interesting and simple conversion from CDs to carbon shells on the surfaces of ZnS nanospheres. The as-formed ZnS/carbon nanocomposites exhibit an enhanced hydrogen evolution rate, up to 4.9 times over bare ZnS nanospheres, from sacrificial photocatalytic water splitting under solar light. The upconverted photoluminescence properties of the carbon nanomaterials, coupled with favorable electron transfer ability, are responsible for the improved photocatalytic behavior. Additionally, the difference in the hydrogen rates between CDs and the carbon shell was discussed. The inexpensive and convenient strategy may offer new prospects in the engineering of desirable nanostructures with better performance.