Investigation of Two Novel Heterojunction Photocatalysts with Boosted Hydrogen Evolution Performance

Among the reported photocatalysts, ZnIn₂S₄ has garnered significant research interest due to its advantageous layered structure and appropriate band gap. However, achieving rational design and effective interfacial regulation in heterojunctions remains challenging. In this study, we designed two novel heterojunctions: SrTiO₃@ZnIn₂S₄ and SrCrO₃@ZnIn₂S₄. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance of prepared heterojunctions was systematically investigated under different single-wavelength light sources. Without a cocatalyst, the optimized hydrogen evolution efficiency of SrTiO₃@ZnIn₂S₄ and SrCrO₃@ZnIn₂S₄ reached 3.27 and 4.6 mmol g^-1. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the formation of a type-II heterojunction, which improves light absorption capabilities and promotes the separation and transfer of photoinduced carriers. This study provides valuable insights into the strategic construction of heterojunctions for photocatalytic water splitting.