Fig 1

(a) Schematic illustration of the synthesis of Au–Sv–CIS using CA as complexing agent. (b, c) TEM image and (d) HRTEM image of Au–Sv–CIS. (e) HAADF image and EDX elemental mappings of Au, Cd, In, and S."

Fig 2

(a) Photocatalytic H2O2 evolution rates over different samples in 10%-ethanol/water solution with air as atmosphere. (b) Comparison of H2O2 generation toward the as-prepared photocatalyst in 10%-ethanol/water solution. (c) H2O2 production yields comparison between the optimized Au–Sv–CIS photocatalyst in this work and other reported ternary sulfide based composites. (d) H2O2 photodegradation rates, (e) the rate constants of H2O2 formation (kf) and decomposition (kd), (f) Wavelength-dependent AQY of photocatalytic H2O2 production, (g) Control experiments with different scavengers in H2O2 production process, and (h) the recycling tests of the Au–Sv–CIS composite."

Fig 3

(a) UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, (b) corresponding Tauc plots transformed Kubelka-Munk function, (c) Mott-Schottky plots of Au–Sv–CIS, (d) the relative band structure of the samples. (e) Carrier concentrations of the samples retrieved from Hall effect test. (f) PL spectra, (g) TRPL emission decay spectra, (h) transient photocurrent response, and (i) EIS spectra of the samples."

Fig 4

(a) CPDs of the samples in the dark. (b) Electron transfer between Au and Sv–CIS on account of their different work function. High resolution XPS spectra of (c) S 2p, (d) In 3d, and (e) Cd 3d. (f) Schematic diagram of electron deficient Auδ+ formation to strengthen Au–Oads bond. (g) O2–TPD profiles of the samples, (h) DRIFTS spectra of Au–Sv–CIS in the range of 2000–600 cm−1."

Fig 5

Side view of the optimized (a) CIS, (b) Sv–CIS, and (c) Au–Sv–CIS adsorbed with O2. Side view of the charge density difference of (d) CIS, (e) Sv–CIS, and (f) Au–Sv–CIS adsorbed with O2. (The charge accumulation is shown as the yellow region, and the charge depletion is shown as the cyan region. The isosurface was set to 1.3 × 10−3 e·Å−3)."

Fig 6

Pseudocolor plots of (a) pure CIS, (b) Sv–CIS, (c) Au–Sv–CIS. Normalized decay kinetic curves of (d) CIS, (e) Sv–CIS and (f) Au–Sv–CIS for electron quenching processes. (g) Schematic illustration of the decay pathways of photogenerated electrons in Sv–CIS and Au–Sv–CIS. (h) in-situ XPS spectra of Au 4f for Au–Sv–CIS before and after light irradiation."