Solvothermal synthesis ZnS–In2S3–Ag2S solid solution coupled with TiO2−xSx nanotubes film for photocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract ZnS–In 2 S 3 –Ag 2 S solid solution coupled with TiO 2-x S x nanotubes film catalyst has been successfully prepared by a two-step process of anodization and solvothermal methods for the first time. The as-prepared photo-catalysts are characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–Vis DRS), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The results show that the ZnS–In 2 S 3 –Ag 2 S solid solution are deposited on the surface of TiO 2 NTs nanotubes under the solvothermal conditions, by which S atoms are incorporated into the lattice of TiO 2 through substituting the sites of oxygen atoms. Such ZnS–In 2 S 3 –Ag 2 S@TiO 2-x S x nanotubes composite presents the enhanced absorption in visible region and the efficient transfer of photoelectron between the solid solution and TiO 2-x S x nanotubes, which determines the excellent photocatalytic activity for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions containing the sacrificial reagents of Na 2 S and Na 2 SO 3 under 500 W Xe lamp irradiation.