Aminated flower-like ZnIn2S4 coupled with benzoic acid modified g-C3N4 nanosheets via covalent bonds for ameliorated photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Abstract To ameliorate the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 samples, through covalent bonds, we coupled aminated flower-like ZnIn2S4 (AZIS) with functionalized g-C3N4 nanosheets by benzoic acid (BCN) to establish an integral structure, BCN/AZIS. A series of photocatalytic tests and characterization results confirmed that the conjunct catalyst is able to give superior photocatalytic properties for H2 generation (485.4 µmol·h-1), about 15.1 times that of pure g-C3N4 (32.1 µmol·h-1). The improvement in photocatalysis of BCN/AZIS could be ascribed to the intimately interfacial contact and well-matched band gaps structure between BCN and AZIS, both of which bring about effective photoinduced charge separation and migration.