Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production coupled with tetracycline degradation using Ru-ZnIn2S4 nanostructures

Ru-doped ZnIn 2 S 4 (Ru-ZnIn 2 S 4 ) nanostructures were prepared by doping different amounts of Ru into ZnIn 2 S 4 through a one-step hydrothermal method. The structure, morphology, band structure, light absorption and photoelectrochemical properties of as-prepared samples were characterized by a series of characterization methods such as XRD, TEM, SEM, UV–vis DRS, PL and TRPL. These results show that doping Ru into ZnIn 2 S 4 effectively improves the separation and transfer efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes. When the addition amount of RuCl 3 is 30 µmol, the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance reaches its optimum, achieving a hydrogen production rate of 5974.7 μmol·g −1 ·h −1 , which is 15.9 times greater than that of pure ZnIn 2 S 4 . In the experiment of hydrogen production coupled with tetracycline (TC) degradation, the degradation rate of TC for 0.03Ru-ZnIn 2 S 4 reaches 70.2 %, and the hydrogen production rate reaches up to 202.8 μmol·g −1 ·h −1 , effectively achieving the hydrogen energy conversion and degradation of TC. This study presents a novel strategy for the treatment of wastewater by photocatalysis and realization of energy recovery as well as wastewater treatment.