In situ fabrication of SWCNT@ZIS nanocomposites for enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Single-walled carbon nanotubes/ZnIn 2 S 4 (SWCNT@ZIS) nanocomposites with tunable SWCNT content were successfully synthesized via the in situ growth of three-dimensional (3D) ZIS nanostructures on the surface of one-dimensional (1D) carboxylated SWCNTs. Structural and morphological analyses revealed the formation of a robust interfacial connection between the SWCNTs and ZIS nanostructures, with the 3D ZIS uniformly anchored onto the 1D SWCNT framework. This unique architecture facilitates the directional transport of photogenerated charge carriers, significantly enhancing electron transfer and separation efficiency. During the ZIS growth process in an oil bath, partial removal of oxygen-containing functional groups from the carboxylated SWCNTs was verified, which effectively preserves the intrinsic high conductivity of the SWCNTs. Moreover, the incorporation of SWCNTs markedly reduced the agglomeration of 3D ZIS nanostructures, leading to increased specific surface area, higher density of active sites, and improved visible-light absorption. Under visible-light irradiation ( λ  > 420 nm), the SWCNT@ZIS nanocomposites demonstrated superior photocatalytic performance to pristine ZIS. The versatile in situ growth strategy on SWCNTs provides a promising approach for designing and fabricating advanced semiconductor SWCNT hybrid materials with tailored properties for photocatalytic applications.