Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of P-Chlorophenol by ZnIn2S4 Nanoflowers Modified with Carbon Quantum Dots

The removal of chlorophenol (CP) contaminants from water is a great challenge owing to their natural robustness and the toxic chlorinated by-products generated in degradation processes. In this work, series three-dimensional nanoflower-like structured photocatalysts (CQDs/ZnIn2S4-x, x = 1, 2, or 3 wt%) were fabricated via facile hydrothermal approach. Excellent photocatalytic abilities toward 4-CP under Xe lamp irradiation achieved over as-prepared composites. efficiency total organic carbon for on optimized CQDs/ZnIn2S4-2 was 49.1%, which 16.0% higher than that ZnIn2S4. presence CQDs could not only be used adjust controllable band structures enhancing light absorption, but it also serve as an electron acceptor promote transition electron–hole pairs. Moreover, possible mechanism proposed according analyses active species, paramagnetic resonance characterization, products, attacked sites. Overall, work unveils superior function efficient photocatalyst refractory pollutants.