Synthesis of AgInS(2)-xAg(2)S-yZnS-zIn(6)S(7) (x, y, z = 0, or 1) Nanocomposites with Composition-Dependent Activity towards Solar Hydrogen Evolution

Metal sulfides-based nanomaterials have been used as a class of efficient solar driven photocatalysts. However, the H(2)-production rate observed over these photocatalysts remains problematic. Here, the AgInS(2)-xAg(2)S-yZnS-zIn(6)S(7) (x, y, z = 0 or 1) nanocomposites with controlled compositions have been successfully prepared by a simple hydrothermal method with AgI polyhedrons as silver source. The obtained AgInS(2)-xAg(2)S-yZnS-zIn(6)S(7) nanocomposites showed a composition-dependent activity for H(2) evolution from aqueous solution under simulated sun-light irradiation. The results showed that the optimized product of AgInS(2)-Ag(2)S-ZnS nanoparticles synthesized with the precursor ratio of Ag:Zn = 1:1 exhibited the highest H(2) evolution rate of 5.4 mmol·g(−1)·h(−1). Furthermore, the catalyst can be used for 20 h without loss of activity, showing its high stability. It opens a new path to achieve highly efficient solar photocatalyst for H(2) evolution from water splitting.