ENGINEERING ZNIN2S4 BASED CATALYSTS TOWARDS PHOTOCATALYTIC ORGANIC SYNTHESIS

Abstract

In this work, ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) based photocatalysts have been studied to fit the requirements of various organic photosynthesis coupled with hydrogen evolution reactions. Various modification methods, including defect engineering, elemental doping, heterostructures, and single atom deposition, have been applied to fabricate ZIS with different kinds of active sites and band structures, which in turn alters the conversion and selectivity of the photoreactions. Specifically, we studied the catalytic behavior of defect-engineered ZIS in the photoconversion of benzylamine. Different vacancies led to the selective formation of C-N, C=N, and C-C products without the assistance of any co-catalyst. Additionally, a novel wavelength-selective BA conversion was observed on VIn-ZIS. Besides, Mo-doped ZIS presented enhanced photocatalytic imine formation by activating the basal plane of ZIS, while isolated Pt single-atom sites on ZIS showed the influence of the density of active sites in the selective benzyl alcohol conversions.