A recyclable ZnIn2S4/PAN photocatalytic nanofiber membrane for boosting visible light hydrogen evolution in seawater without cocatalyst

Using seawater for photocatalytic hydrogen production is always a highly promising direction. However, traditional powdered photocatalysts encounter challenges like ion interference and difficulty in reuse. To address these issues, we have combined the photocatalyst ZnIn 2 S 4 (ZIS) with a polymer (PAN) using electrospinning technology to produce a composite photocatalytic ZIS/PAN nanofiber membrane. In aqueous solution, the ZIS/PAN nanofiber membrane achieves a maximum hydrogen evolution rate of approximately 1836 μmol/g/h, which is 3.37 times that of ZIS particles. Additionally, cyanide groups on PAN fibers can capture a small portion of photogenerated electrons, which then adsorb ions from seawater, reducing their impact on the photocatalyst and demonstrating excellent seawater hydrogen production performance. At specific ion concentrations , the membrane's activity is 20 % higher than in aqueous solution. Moreover, it overcomes the limitations of powdered photocatalyst structures, enabling device integration that facilitates easy recovery and reuse.