title: Nanocomposites of AgInZnS and graphene nanosheets as efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution.
abstract: In this study, AgInZnS-reduced graphene (AIZS-rGO) nanocomposites with tunable band gap absorption and large specific surface area were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal route, which showed highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible-light irradiation. The relationships between their crystal structures, morphology, surface chemical states and photocatalytic activity have been explored in detail. Importantly, the AIZS-rGO nanocomposites with 0.02 wt% of graphene exhibited the highest hydrogen production rate of 1.871 mmol h(-1) g(-1), which was nearly 2 times the hydrogen production rate when using pure AIZS nanoparticles as the photocatalyst. This high photocatalytic H2-production activity was attributed predominantly to the incorporation of graphene sheets, which demonstrated an obvious influence on the structure and optical properties of the AIZS nanoparticles. In the AIZS-rGO nanocomposites, graphene could not only serve as an effective supporting layer but also is a recombination center for conduction band electrons and valence band holes. It is believed that this kind of graphene-based material would attract much attention as a promising photocatalyst with a high efficiency and a low cost for photocatalytic H2 evolution and facilitates their application in the environmental protection field.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Technology and Systems of the Education Ministry of China, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China. xstang@cqu.edu.cn zangzg@cqu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaosheng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Kuan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Lidong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Junmin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xue