Light-induced CoOX surface reconstruction in hollow heterostructure for durable photocatalytic seawater splitting

Chunyu Yuan, Hongfei Yin, Jing Li, Yuxi Zhang, Hongji Chen, Dongdong Xiao, Qizhao Wang (), Yongzheng Zhang () and Qi-Kun Xue
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Chunyu Yuan: Qufu Normal University
Hongfei Yin: Qufu Normal University
Jing Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yuxi Zhang: Northwest Normal University
Hongji Chen: Qufu Normal University
Dongdong Xiao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qizhao Wang: Northwest Normal University
Yongzheng Zhang: Qufu Normal University
Qi-Kun Xue: Quantum Science Center of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Photocorrosion triggered by the unconsumed photogenerated holes severely deteriorates the photocatalytic efficiency and stability of semiconductor photocatalysts, especially in seawater with complex ions. Here, we report a hierarchical hollow ZnIn2S4 heterostructure integrating an inner CoOx nanocage and atomically dispersed Pt anchoring at surface S vacancies for hydrogen evolution from natural seawater (23.88 mmol g−1 h−1) and pure water (48.99 mmol g−1 h−1) under visible light. The dynamic Co2+/Co3+ self-reconstruction of the inner CoOx cage effectively consumes photogenerated holes, while the outer Pt1 single atoms localized at S vacancies serve as electron sinks to facilitate electron extraction and proton reduction. Benefiting from the dynamic hole-scavenging mechanism via oxidation self-reconstruction, the Pt1-ZnIn2S4@CoOX photocatalyst exhibits enhanced durability against alkali metal ions in seawater and maintains high reactivity for long-term hydrogen evolution. This work underscores the importance of light-induced transition metal dynamic self-reconstruction within hierarchical hollow heterostructure photocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen evolution.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62033-0

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