1D/2D Sb2S3@SnIn4S8 core-shell S-scheme heterojunction: A bifunctional photocatalyst for concurrent H2 production and antibiotic degradation in wastewater

Photocatalytic technology offers a promising “one-stone-two-birds” solution to simultaneously combat energy scarcity and environmental contamination through hydrogen production and pollutant degradation. However, conventional photocatalysts suffer from severe limitations in bifunctional efficiency due to rapid charge recombination, poor visible-light harvesting, and inadequate redox power. Herein, a novel 1D/2D core-shell Sb 2 S 3 @SnIn 4 S 8 S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst is engineered. The unique architecture, featuring Sb 2 S 3 nanorods wrapped by SnIn 4 S 8 nanosheets, achieves (i) maximized interfacial contact and charge transfer pathways, (ii) exposed active sites through high specific surface area, and (iii) directional spatial separation of photogenerated carriers. Crucially, the S-scheme heterojunction drives efficient charge separation while preserving strong redox capability. The Sb 2 S 3 @SnIn 4 S 8 catalyst realizes breakthrough dual-functionality: an outstanding average H 2 evolution rate of 3566.1 μmol g −1  h −1 and an impressive 90.5% degradation efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride under 2 h of visible-light illumination. This performance surpasses the individual components by 7.6-fold (vs. Sb 2 S 3 ) and 4.8-fold (vs. SnIn 4 S 8 ) in H 2 production, highlighting the synergy. Moreover, the catalyst demonstrates broad applicability across diverse pollutant systems. This study provides a scalable platform for developing dual-functional photocatalysts toward sustainable energy-water nexus solutions.