Leaf‐Architecture and Function‐Mimicked Ensemble of Hierarchical Ag Nanowires/Ti <sub>3</sub> C <sub>2</sub> T <i> <sub>x</sub> </i> MXene@Sulfur‐Vacancy Rich ZnIn <sub>2</sub> S <sub>4</sub> Nanosheet Arrays for Enhanced Photoredox Catalysis
Abstract In pursuing efficient photocatalytic systems, nature‐inspired photocatalysis has emerged as a promising strategy to optimize charge transfer and surface reactions. Inspired by the structure and function of plant leaves, a leaf‐like hierarchical heterostructure is constructed. ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheet arrays are anchored on the integrated Ag nanowires network with Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene support, during which process sulfur vacancies (V S ) are formed due to the anti‐strong metal‐support interaction. The ZnIn 2 S 4 nanosheet arrays supported by Ti 3 C 2 T x serve as mesophyll to absorb photons and convert solar‐to‐chemicals, the Ag nanowires embedded in the interface of ZnIn 2 S 4 and Ti 3 C 2 T x function as veins to shuttle the charge carriers for the surface redox reactions, and the V S on ZnIn 2 S 4 resemble stomata to facilitate the adsorption of reactants. Furthermore, the formed V S are able to reduce the thermodynamic barriers in photocatalytic reactions. The synergistic effect of these functional components enables hydrogenation of several nitroaromatic compounds, and exhibits a photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate of 1119.4 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under visible‐light irradiation, which is ≈7.9 times as high as that of pure ZnIn 2 S 4 . This study highlights the pivotal role of functional design inspired by nature in advancing solar‐to‐chemical conversion and paves the way for the development of next‐generation photocatalysts in green chemistry and H 2 energy applications.
Authors
- Senlin Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5117-3110)
- Xiuqiang Xie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8670-8397)
- Ruoning Zhan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5161-2388)
- Guanshun Xie (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8299-1546)
- Zhaohui Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0117-9976)
- Yingde Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8615-194X)
- Nan Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0299-1728)
- Peng Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3281-3757)
- Benhua Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5368-5427)
- Le Liao
- Jie Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4677-4891)
Institutions
- Qinghai University (CN)
- Hunan University (CN)
- Xi'an Jiaotong University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Functional Materials
- Published
- 2025-04-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202505376
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.54
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Hunan University
- Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province
- Science and Technology Program of Hunan Province
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities