Facile Synthesis of 2D/2D Ti₂C₃/ZnIn₂S₄ Heterostructure for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

ZnIn₂S₄, a novel two-dimensional visible light-responsive photocatalyst, has attracted much attention in the photocatalytic evolution of H₂ under visible light irradiation due to its attractive intrinsic photoelectric properties and geometric configuration. However, ZnIn₂S₄ still has severe charge recombination, which results in moderate photocatalytic performance. Herein, we report the successful synthesis of 2D/2D ZnIn₂S₄/Ti₃C₂ nanocomposites by a facile one-step hydrothermal method. The efficiency of the nanocomposites in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation was also evaluated for different ratios of Ti₃C₂, and the optimal photocatalytic activity was achieved at 5% Ti₃C₂. Importantly, the activity was significantly higher than that of pure ZnIn₂S₄, ZnIn₂S₄/Pt, and ZnIn₂S₄/graphene. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is mainly due to the close interfacial contact between Ti₃C₂ and ZnIn₂S₄ nanosheets, which amplifies the transport of photogenerated electrons and enhances the separation of photogenerated carriers. This research describes a novel approach for the synthesis of 2D MXenes for photocatalytic hydrogen production and expands the utility of MXene composite materials in the fields of energy storage and conversion.