Creation of Interfacial S-Sn-N Electron Pathways for Efficient Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution.

Establishing effective charge transfer channels between two semiconductors is key to improving photocatalytic activity. However, controlling hetero-structures in situ and designing binding modes pose significant challenges. Herein, hydrolytic SnCl·2HO is selected as the metal source and loaded in situ onto a layered carbon nitriden supramolecular precursor. A composite photocatalyst, S-Sn-N, with electron pathways of SnS and tubular carbon nitriden (TCN) is prepared through pyrolysis and vulcanization processes. The contact interface of SnS-TCN is increased significantly, promoting the formation of S-Sn-N micro-structure in a Z-scheme charge transfer channel. This structure accelerates the separation and transport of photogenerated carriers, maintains the stronger redox ability, and improves the stability of SnS in this series of heterojunctions. Therefore, the catalyst demonstrated exceptional photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency, achieving a reaction rate of 86.4 µmol h, which is 3.15 times greater than that of bare TCN.