Excellent Photoelectro-Catalytic Performance of In2S3/NiFe-LDH Prepared by a Two-Step Method

In this work, we synthesize hierarchical In2S3/NiFe-layered double hydroxide (In2S3/NiFe-LDH) nanoarrays on an F-doped SnO2 glass substrate via a two-step method, which the In2S3 electrode film was firstly prepared using chemical bath deposition on F-doped SnO2 glass substrate, and then the layered NiFe-LDH was deposited on In2S3 electrode film by hydrothermal synthesis. The two-component photoanode In2S3/NiFe-LDH exhibits significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical properties compared with the In2S3 single-component; due to that, the NiFe-LDH nanosheets depositing on the surface of In2S3 nanocrystal can reduce the accumulation of photogenic holes, facilitate the separation of photogenerated charge carriers, and enhance the light response and absorption. After being decorated with the NiFe-LDH nanosheets, the In2S3/NiFe-LDH photoanode displays a lower onset potential of 0.06 V and an enhanced photocurrent density as high as 0.30 mA·cm−2 at the potential of 1.0 V (vs. RHE). Furthermore, it also displays a 90% degradation rate of xylose oxidizing into xylose acid in 3 h under UV light. This work provides a promising approach for designing new heterojunctions applied to biomass degradation.