Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Enabled by Defect‐ and Interface‐Induced Dual Built‐in Electric Fields in a ZnIn <sub>2</sub> S <sub>4</sub> /1T‐2H WS <sub>2</sub> Heterojunction
Efficient photocatalysis requires coordinated regulation of charge transport across both bulk and interfacial regions. Here, we introduce an in situ hydrothermal-solvothermal method that simultaneously creates a defect-induced p-n homojunction in ZnIn<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub> (ZIS) and a type-II heterojunction with hybrid 1T-2H WS<sub>2</sub>, forming antiparallel internal-interfacial built-in electric fields (BIEF) that are confirmed by spectroscopic, electronic, optical, and theoretical analyses. Under the guidance of this dual-field coupling effect, photoexcited carriers undergo more efficient separation, enabling the effective modulation of bulk carrier migration and directing electrons toward sulfur-vacancy (S<sub>v</sub>) sites in ZIS for efficient hydrogen evolution. The hybrid 1T-2H phases of WS<sub>2</sub> further enhance light absorption and facilitate rapid charge generation and transfer, reinforcing the dual-BIEF-driven transport pathway. The optimized ZIS/WS<sub>2</sub> photocatalyst achieves a hydrogen evolution rate of 44.97 mmol g<sup>-1 </sup>h<sup>-1</sup> and an apparent quantum efficiency of 24.54% at 400 nm. This work establishes antiparallel dual-BIEF engineering combined with 1T-2H hybrid-phase modulation as a platform for directional charge-dynamic control, offering a pathway toward efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion.
Authors
- Jiafeng Ma
- Li Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3022-936X)
- Jinyu Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6192-4720)
- Caihong Hao
- Shengliang Hu
- Wenjie Tian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3211-3219)
- Q Sun Chang
- Chaorui Xue
- Ning Li
- Shaobin Wang
- Xiangqian Fan
Institutions
- North University of China (CN)
- The University of Adelaide (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Small
- Published
- 2026-03-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202514954
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00