Fabricating carbon quantum dots doped ZnIn2S4 nanoflower composites with broad spectrum and enhanced photocatalytic Tetracycline hydrochloride degradation

In this study, a simple in-situ hydrothermal method was demonstrated for fabricating a novel photocatalyst with broad spectrum response based on carbon quantum dots doped ZnIn2S4 nanoflowers(ZIS/CQDs). Compared with pure ZnIn2S4, ZIS/CQDs samples with broader sunlight spectrum responses and higher photostability exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performances towards photodegradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) under UV, visible, NIR light and simulated sunlight irradiation. ZIS/CQDs samples all presented higher NIR light activities while pure ZnIn2S4 showed no such ability. The up-converted photoluminescence property of CQDs in composites played an important role in enhancing NIR light response and photodegradation of TCH. Further, ZIS/CQDs sample also possessed the high visible-light photocatalytic activity to degrade rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl orange (MO). A possible mechanism of CQDs on the enhanced photocatalytic activity of ZIS/CQDs sample was also proposed.