Construction of Direct Z−Scheme SnS(2) Quantum Dots/Conjugated Polyimide with Superior Photocarrier Separation for Enhanced Photocatalytic Performances

In this study, a novel direct Z-scheme SnS(2) quantum dots/sulfur-doped polyimide (SQDs/SPI) photocatalyst was firstly fabricated by an in situ crystallization growth of SnS(2) quantum dots on sulfur-doped polyimide through a facile hydrothermal method. The photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of 5SQDs/SPI samples reached 3526 μmoL g(−1) in the coexistence of triethanolamine and methanol used as hole sacrificial agents, which is about 13 times higher than that of SPI under the same conditions and 42 times higher than that of SPI only as a hole sacrificial agent. The improvement can be related to the direct Z-scheme charge transfer in the tight interface between SQDs and SPI, which promoted rapid separation and significantly prolonged the lifetime of photoexcited carriers. The Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism was proposed. This discovery comes up with a new strategy for the development of an efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable sulfide quantum dots/polymer non-noble metal photocatalyst.