Scavengers-driven restructuring of VO-ZnO to VO-ZnO/ZnS S-scheme heterojunction for boosting the photocatalytic hydrogen production

Z. L. Li ,X. R. Zhu ,W. Yan ,L. C. Zhang a. ,Y. C. Wei ,Y. P. Chen ,Y. E. Xie ,J. Xu

doi:10.67229/JOR16569

Z. L. Li

X. R. Zhu

W. Yan

L. C. Zhang a.

Y. C. Wei

Y. P. Chen

Y. E. Xie

J. Xu

a School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang,

Jiangsu, 212013, P. R. China

b Jiangsu Engineering Research Center on Quantum Perception and Intelligent

Detection of Agricultural Information, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013,

China

Journal of Ovonic Research 2025, 21(4),449-462; https://doi.org/10.67229/JOR16569

Submitted：Mar 13, 2025

Accepted：Aug 01, 2025

Published：Aug 17, 2026

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Cite

Z. L. Li ,X. R. Zhu ,W. Yan ,L. C. Zhang a. ,Y. C. Wei ,Y. P. Chen ,Y. E. Xie ,J. Xu . (2025). Journal of Ovonic Research. Scavengers-driven restructuring of VO-ZnO to VO-ZnO/ZnS S-scheme heterojunction for boosting the photocatalytic hydrogen production, 21(4), ,449-462. https://doi.org/10.67229/JOR16569

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Abstract

In this study, Na2S and Na2SO3 were used as hole sacrificial agents to induce the transformation of ZnO into a Vo-ZnO/ZnS composite (ZnO-X-RE) during the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution process, generating oxygen vacancies and forming an S-scheme heterojunction. This configuration enhances light absorption and establishes efficient S- scheme charge transfer pathways, suppressing electron-hole recombination. The hydrogen production capacity of the optimized ZnO-700-RE reaches 12.08 mmol·g_¹ ·h_¹, 25-fold higher than pristine ZnO. This work elucidates the dual role of hole scavengers in modulating photocatalyst evolution and proposes a strategic route for designing high- performance S-scheme systems.

Keywords

Hole scavenger

Structural reconstruction

ZnO/ZnS S-scheme heterojunction

Oxygen vacancy

Photocatalysis