Charge separation and transport as well as light absorption are pivotal in determining the efficiency of solar water splitting devices. Herein, we have designed a novel edamame shaped ZnIn2S4 nanostructures consisted of hybridized nanoflflakes (2D) and nanoparticles (0D) on ITO conductive substrate through a simple hydrothermal method for PEC water splitting for the first time. The growth mechanism of 0D/2D ZnIn2S4 is proposed and discussed in detail. The series of PEC measurements indicate that edamame shaped 0D/2D ZnIn2S4 films exhibit relatively higher PEC activity (0.37 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE) than that of ZnIn2S4 NFs and ZnIn2S4 NPs due to the enhanced light absorption and efficient charge separation and transfer and increased active sites. Additionally, after selectively depositing Co-Pi cocatalyst and Pt NPs on the top and bottom sides of edamame shaped ZnIn2S4 photoanodes, charge recombination at the surface and interface can be efficiently reduced. The spatial Co-Pi cocatalyst drives holes to flow to the surface, while the Pt NPs facilitate the electrons in the opposite directions. Thus, the integrated Co Pi/ZnIn2S4/Pt equipment without any additional doping presents an increased photocurrent density with 0.91 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE. This work highlights that edamame shaped ZnIn2S4 can be a promising candidate for photoelectrochemical behavior and rout such as coupling of Co-Pi and Pt co-catalysts on photoanodes have an interfacial electric field can provide a new avenues to design efficient PEC devices in future.

Hybrid 0D/2D edamame shaped ZnIn2S4 photoanode modified by Co-Pi and Pt for charge management towards efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

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