Augmented photocatalysis induced by 1T-MoS bridged 2D/2D MgInS@1T/2H-MoS Z-scheme heterojunction: mechanistic insights into HO and H evolution.

In the realm of composite photocatalysts, the fusion of the co-catalyst effect with interfacial engineering is recognized as a potent strategy for facilitating the segregation and migration of photo-induced charge carriers. Herein, an innovative mediator-based Z-scheme hybrid, MIS@1T/2H-MoS, has been well designed by pairing MIS with 1T/2H-MoS a facile hydrothermal strategy as a competent photocatalyst for HO and H generation. The co-catalyst, metallic 1T-phase bridging between semiconducting 2H-MoS and MIS, serves as a solid state electron mediator in the heterostructure. Morphological findings revealed the growth of 1T/2H-MoS nanoflowers over MIS microflowers, verifying the close interaction between MIS and 1T/2H-MoS. By virtue of accelerated e/h pair separation and migration efficiency along with a proliferated density of active sites, the MMoS-30 photocatalyst yields an optimum HO of 35 μmol h and H of 370 μmol h (ACE of 5.9%), which is 3 and 2.7 fold higher than pristine MIS. This obvious enhancement can be attributed to photoluminescence and electrochemical aspects that substantiate the diminished charge transfer resistance along with improved charge carrier separation, representing a good example of a noble metal-free photocatalyst. The proposed Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism is aided by time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL), XPS, radical trapping experiments, and EPR analysis. Overall, this endeavour provides advanced insights into the architecture of noble metal-free Z-scheme heterostructures, offering promising prospects in photocatalytic applications.