Tuning the Crystallinity and Coverage of SiO2-ZnIn2S4Core-Shell Nanoparticles for Efficient Hydrogen Generation

Mrinalini Mishra, Yen Chen Huang, Peng Hua Wang, Si Ping Liu, T. Randall Lee, Tai Chou Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

The coverage, thickness, and crystallinity of ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) shells on SiO2 core nanoparticles (SiO2@ZIS) were systematically investigated using microwave-assisted solvothermal methods aided by the addition of acid in ethanolic medium. The surface modification of the SiO2 cores with (3-mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane was found to be critical to generate a homogeneous coverage of ZnIn2S4. The SiO2@ZIS core-shell nanoparticles exhibited the best coverage but poor crystallinity when synthesized in pure ethanol, whereas best crystallinity but poor coverage was observed when synthesized in an aqueous solution. The addition of selected amounts of acid (HCl) led to improved crystallinity in the ethanolic medium. The thickness of the ZIS shell could be controlled in an ethanolic solution by judiciously varying the amounts of acid and the concentration of the ZIS precursor. Increasing the concentration of the ZIS precursor to twice the standard concentration in ethanolic solution with the addition of 100 μL of HCl afforded better crystallinity, homogeneous coverage, and optimal photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4043-4050
Number of pages8
JournalACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 27 Jan 2021

Keywords

  • ZnInSshells
  • core-shell nanoparticles
  • photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
  • silica cores

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