Combined Effects of Octahedron NH₂-UiO-66 and Flowerlike ZnIn₂S₄ Microspheres for Photocatalytic Dye Degradation and Hydrogen Evolution under Visible Light

Abstract

The introduction of metal–organic framework materials into photocatalysts is considered to be an effective strategy for improving the transfer and separation efficiency of photogenerated electron–hole pairs. In the present study, we demonstrate the delicate construction of NH2-UiO-66/ZnIn2S4 (NU66/ZIS) composites as bifunctional photocatalysts with the degradation efficiency of malachite green (98%) and the hydrogen evolution rate of a 10% NU66/ZIS composite reaching up to 2199 μmol h–1 g–1. The characterization of unique ZIS/NU66 shows that it can efficiently facilitate the separation and transfer of light-induced charges and exposed rich active sites for photocatalyst redox reaction. Moreover, the results of vitro cytotoxicity assay suggest that NU66/ZIS composites are potential safety photocatalysts to the environment and human beings. Furthermore, the DFT calculation indicates that the Zr site of NU66 and In site of ZnIn2S4 interface should be the main active center in NU66/ZIS heterojunctions.