Photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over ZnIn2S4-based photocatalysts: Recent advances and perspectives

Solar-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is regarded as a promising sustainable strategy to cope with growing global energy demands and severe environmental problems. ZnIn 2 S 4 -based photocatalysts have attracted tremendous research attention owing to their suitable band structure, outstanding visible-light responsiveness and excellent structural versatility. Unfortunately, rapid charge carrier recombination, limited solar spectrum utilization and sluggish surface reaction kinetics still greatly hinder their large-scale practical use. As a reliable enhancement method, photothermal assistance can effectively boost photocatalytic efficiency, since localized thermal effects improve light harvesting, accelerate interfacial charge transfer and facilitate surface reactions simultaneously. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over ZnIn 2 S 4 -based catalysts. It mainly explores photothermal mechanisms and modification strategies, and emphasizes the vital synergy between thermal energy and photogenerated carriers. Finally, we elaborate on current technical challenges and future research prospects, providing reasonable guidance for the rational design of high-performance ZnIn 2 S 4 photocatalytic systems.