Fabrication of In2S3/MIL-68(In) heterojunction composite photocatalysts for degradation of Rhodamine B and hydrogen evolution

The development of high efficient and cost-effective photocatalysts for organic matters degradation and hydrogen evolution is of great importance. In this study, heterojunction photocatalysts based In 2 S 3 and MIL-68(In) were synthesized by hydrothermal method. These composites exhibit excellent bi-functionality of photocatalytic Rhodamine B degradation and hydrogen evolution. And it was found that the photocatalytic performance of the composites was dependent on the ratio of In to S. The optimum catalyst In 2 S 3 /MIL-68(In)-1.5 exhibits much enhanced photocatalytic performance, offering a removal efficiency of 94.7% within 30 min for 20 ppm of Rhodamine B and a hydrogen evolution rate of 1618.8 µmol h −1  g −1 as a result of the synergist effect of heterojunction between the two components, promoting the charge separation. Besides, the mechanisms for photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution were also proposed. This protocol could provide guiding information on the development of other functional photocatalysts.