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Indium hydroxide (In-(OH)3) nanoparticles were prepared with a size of ∼25-45 nm using the homogeneous precipitation method, and a humidity sensor was developed based on this material. The crystal phase and elements of In-(OH)3 were characterized and analyzed using X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphology and specific surface area were determined using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) measurements. Additionally, humidity sensing tests were conducted on In-(OH)3. Owing to the unique porous structure of In-(OH)3, the fabricated In-(OH)3 humidity sensor exhibited excellent humidity sensitivity characteristics, with a wide humidity detection range (11-95%), comparatively excellent response/recovery time (14 s/204 s), high response (430.6), good stability, and high resolution with a minimum detection limit of 1% relative humidity. The humidity response of the In-(OH)3 humidity sensor was tested at different temperatures, indicating its potential for use in diverse environments such as cold storage and bathrooms. Notably, the low manufacturing cost of this sensor further enhances its appeal for widespread applications. This work provides a promising humidity sensing material for the manufacture of high-performance humidity sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialization and agricultural demand have both improved human life and led to environmental contamination. Especially the discharge of a lot of poisonous and harmful gases, including ammonia, ammonia pollution has become a pressing problem. High concentrations of ammonia can pose significant threats to both the environment and human health. Therefore, accurate monitoring and detection of ammonia gas are crucial. To address this challenge, we have developed an ammonia gas sensor using In(OH)3/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposites through an in-situ electrostatic self-assembly process. This sensor was thoroughly characterized using advanced techniques like XRD, XPS, BET, and TEM. In our tests, the I/M-2 sensor exhibited remarkable performance, achieving a 16.8% response to 100 ppm NH3 at room temperature, which is a 3.5-fold improvement over the pure Ti3C2Tx MXene sensor. Moreover, it provides swift response time (20 s), high response to low NH3 concentrations (≤ 10 ppm), and excellent long-term stability (30 days). These exceptional characteristics indicate the immense potential of our In(OH)3/Ti3C2Tx gas sensor in ammonia detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) can be used to improve the microstructure and mechanical performance of cementitious materials, however its disadvantage of being prone to agglomeration limits its application. Embedding nanoparticles in layered GO as a skeleton to form a three-dimensional structure can effectively reduce the aggregation of layered GO. In this paper, the electrostatic self-assembly of In(OH) 3 and GO was realized by inducing In3+ to anchored nucleation and in-situ spheroidization on the surface of GO. The morphology, specific surface area and dispersion of In(OH) 3 -modified GO (IG) can be adjusted by controlling the hydrothermal duration. The degree of the cement hydration, the compressive and flexural strength of cement pastes containing IG (IGC) were improved. The cement hydration acceleration period, cross-sectional porosity, cumulative pore volume and water absorption of IGC samples were reduced at the same time. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have confirmed a simple NaBH 4 reduction method for designing efficient electrocatalysts for interface engineering synthesis of Cu 2 O/In(OH) 3 heterojunctions. The H 2 /CO ratio can be changed from 2:1 to 1:1 by changing the Cu/In ratio. Simultaneously creatively utilizing solar energy to drive CO 2 RR systems while still maintaining excellent performance. [Display omitted] • The synthesis of catalysts (Cu 2 O/In(OH) 3 heterojunction) by one-step reduction with NaBH 4 provides a simple method for interface engineering. • The syngas (H 2 /CO) ratio can be changed from 2:1 to 1:1 within a wide potential range by changing the Cu/In feeding ratio. • Cu 2 O/In(OH) 3 showed high durability, minimal activity attenuation, and no significant change in H 2 /CO ratio after 16 h test. • Creatively using solar energy to drive the CO 2 RR system can directly and efficiently achieve the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy (syngas). • In-situ experiments and detailed characterization show that some Cu+ converts to Cu0 and In remains stable during the CO 2 RR process. Electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) holds greater promise for converting CO 2 into value-added chemicals, but designing and manufacturing efficient CO 2 RR catalysts remains desirable but challenging. Here, the Cu 2 O/In(OH) 3 with heterojunction structure was prepared as an efficient CO 2 RR electrocatalysts. The optimized Cu 2 O/In(OH) 3 –1:1 stabilizes over a wide range of potentials to generate syngas (hydrogen/carbon monoxide, H 2 /CO) at a ratio of 2:1, and the total Faraday efficiency (FE) remains close to 100 %. However, the ratio of syngas will change to 1:1 when the Cu/In ratio becomes 1:2. In addition, creatively using solar energy to drive the CO 2 RR system can directly and efficiently achieve the change of solar energy to chemical energy (syngas). Moreover, in-situ experiments show that part of Cu+ is converted to Cu during the CO 2 RR process, while In(OH) 3 remains stable. This work highlights an efficient electrocatalyst for producing syngas based on interface engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of highly active and stable photocatalysts, an effective way to remediate environment pollution and alleviate energy shortages, remains a challenging issue. In this work, a CdIn2S4/In(OH)3 nanocomposite was deposited in-situ on NiCr-LDH nanosheets by a simple hydrothermal method, and the obtained CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH heterostructure photocatalysts with multiple intimate-contact interfaces exhibited better photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH increased to 10.9 and 58.7 times that of the counterparts CdIn2S4 and NiCr-LDH, respectively. Moreover, the photocatalytic removal efficiency of Cr(VI) increased from 6% for NiCr-LDH and 75% for CdIn2S4 to 97% for CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH. The enhanced photocatalytic performance was attributed to the formation of multi-interfaces with strong interfacial interactions and staggered band alignments, which offered multiple pathways for carrier migration, thus promoting the separation efficiency of photo-excited electrons and holes. This study demonstrates a facile method to fabricate inexpensive and efficient heterostructure photocatalysts for solving environmental problems.

• In(OH) 3 with abundant In vacancies exhibited higher photocatalytic reduction of CO 2. • Addition of En can modify morphology and vacancy concentration of In(OH) 3. • Addition of En can improve the chemisorption of CO 2 on the surface of In(OH) 3. • The addition of En can enhances the photoelectric properties of In(OH) 3. • In vacancies creating defect energy levels in the bandgap reduces the E g of In(OH) 3. In this work, a series of In(OH) 3 with abundant indium vacancies were synthesized by hydrothermal method using mixed solvent of ethylenediamine(En) and water for photocatalytic reduction of CO 2 with H 2 O vapor. The morphology, particle size, crystallinity, pore structure, and vacancy concentration of photocatalysts were successfully regulated by adjusting the ratio of En and water in mixed solvent, which were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TG-DTA, SEM, HRTEM, UV–vis DRS, PL spectra, XPS, and EPR. Moreover, the effect of En/water ratio on the adsorption capacity to CO 2 and photo-electrical properties of In(OH) 3 were further investigated by in-situ FTIR, PL spectra, UV–vis DRS, CV, and EIS. In(OH) 3 prepared in mixed solution exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity for CO 2 reduction with H 2 O vapor compared to that prepared with water only solvent. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the special morphology, smaller particle size, larger BET surface area, and especially generated indium vacancies creating defect energy levels in the bandgap, which improved visible light absorption, carrier separation, and CO 2 chemisorption. This work paves the way to enable a non-visible-light response material with high visible-light photocatalytic activity by regulating vacancy concentration via a facile method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract In(OH) 3 nanosheet modified Bi 2 MoO 6 hierarchical microspheres exhibit much higher photogenerated charge separation efficiency and photocatalytic performance than pure Bi 2 MoO 6. Abstract Various Bi 2 MoO 6 (BM)-based heterojunctions have been constructed to enhance the photocatalytic performance, but hydroxide/BM heterojunctions were rarely reported. To illustrate function of hydroxides in the heterojunctions for charge separation and photoactivity enhancement, In(OH) 3 /BM heterojunctions were simply prepared for the first time via in situ growth of In(OH) 3 nanosheets on surfaces of BM hierarchical microspheres in a chemical precipitation process at the room temperature. Construction of the heterojunction benefits from formation of In-O-Bi/Mo bonds at the interface between BM and In(OH) 3. Photoluminescence spectroscopy, time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, and photoelectrochemical tests demonstrate that the In(OH) 3 /BM heterojunction exhibits considerably accelerated separation of photoinduced charge carriers which results in increased generation rates of reactive oxygen species and enhanced photocatalytic degradation efficiencies for Rhodamine B, salicylic acid, and resorcinol, in comparison with pure BM. The heterojunction shows high chemical stability and satisfactory recyclability. This work provides a new BM-based heterojunction and, more importantly, deep insight into function of hydroxides in the heterojunction, which can direct preparation of other hydroxide-containing heterojunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A simple and mild wet-chemical approach was developed for the synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) In(OH)3 nanostructures. By calcining the 1D In(OH)3 nanocrystals in air at 250 °C, 1D In2O3 nanocrystals with the same morphology were obtained. TEM results show that both 1D In(OH)3 and 1D In2O3 are composed of uniform nanotube bundles. SAED and XRD patterns indicate that 1D In(OH)3 and 1D In2O3 nanostructures are single crystalline and possess the same bcc crystalline structure as the bulk In(OH)3 and In2O3, respectively. TGA/DTA analyses of the precursor In(OH)3 and the final product In2O3 confirm the existence of CTAB molecules, and its content is about 6%. The optical absorption band edge of 1D In2O3 exhibits an evident blueshift with respect to that of the commercial In2O3 powders, which is caused by the increasing energy gap resulted from decreasing the grain size. A relatively strong and broad purple-blue emission band centered at 440 nm was observed in the room temperature PL spectrum of 1D In2O3 nanotube bundles, which was mainly attributed to the existence of the oxygen vacancies.

Foreigner element doping is one of effective strategies to promote photocatalytic reaction. Herein, a convenient one-step solvothermal method is applied to enable the isomorphic substitution of In3+ in In(OH) 3 by Bi3+. The composition and microstructure of the photocatalysts were mainly obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). UV–Vis diffuse reflectance and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy revealed the optical properties of photocatalysts. The surface properties of photocatalysts were mainly characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Theoretical calculations were used to reveal the reaction mechanism. The results indicated that CO production rate and selectivity of Bi3+ doped In(OH) 3 are much higher than that of the pure In(OH) 3 , which could be attributed to the extended solar spectral response, the enhanced CO 2 adsorption capacity and the accelerated photogenerated carriers separation. The current work verifies the potential application of isomorphic substitution as an efficient route for solar fuel production. The incorporation of Bi atoms into In(OH) 3 lattice introduced many defects, which narrowed the band gap, extended the solar spectral response range, inhibited the recombination of photocarriers and exposed more active sites. As a result, much higher activity for CO 2 photoreduction toward CO with H 2 O is achieved. [Display omitted] • Bi3+ doped In(OH) 3 photocatalysts are fabricated via a one-pot solvothermal method. • Introduction of Bi3+ remarkably promotes specific surface area and formation of In vacancies. • Synergetic effects of Bi3+ and In vacancies improve light absorption and charge separation. • Bi3+ isomorphic substitution for In3+ enhances CO 2 reduction with improving CO selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In(OH)3-coated Zn-Al-hydrotalcite is prepared by homogeneous precipitation method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images reveal that the In(OH)3 is successfully coated on the surface of the Zn-Al-hydrotalcite particles. And about 2.5wt% of coating is determined through the energy dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDS). The electrochemical performance of In(OH)3-coated Zn-Al-hydrotalcite is investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscope (EIS), Tafel polarization curves and galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements. The EIS exhibits a higher charge-transfer resistance and the Tafel polarization curves reveal a more positive corrosion potential for the In(OH)3-coated Zn-Al-hydrotalcite, in comparison with the pristine Zn-Al-hydrotalcite and the mixture of Zn-Al-hydrotalcite and In(OH)3. After 50 cell cycles, the In(OH)3-coated Zn-Al-hydrotalcite retains a specific discharge capacity of 364.0mAhg−1 with a retention rate of 96.9%, which is much superior to that of 262.2mAhg−1 with a retention rate of 67.6% for the pristine Zn-Al-LDHs and 299.2mAhg−1 with a retention rate of 81.2% for the mixture of Zn-Al-LDHs with In(OH)3. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In(OH)3 and In2O3 nano-structures have been synthesized from the reaction of In(CH3COO)3 and sodium hydroxide by a sonochemical method. The effects of reaction conditions, such as the concentration of the In3+ ion, aging time and power of the ultrasonic device have been investigated. The In2O3 and In(OH)3 nano-structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) technique. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A simple and mild wet-chemical approach was developed for the synthesis of one-dimensional (1D) In(OH)3 nanostructures. By calcining the 1D In(OH)3 nanocrystals in air at 250 °C, 1D In2O3 nanocrystals with the same morphology were obtained. TEM results show that both 1D In(OH)3 and 1D In2O3 are composed of uniform nanotube bundles. SAED and XRD patterns indicate that 1D In(OH)3 and 1D In2O3 nanostructures are single crystalline and possess the same bcc crystalline structure as the bulk In(OH)3 and In2O3, respectively. TGA/DTA analyses of the precursor In(OH)3 and the final product In2O3 confirm the existence of CTAB molecules, and its content is about 6%. The optical absorption band edge of 1D In2O3 exhibits an evident blueshift with respect to that of the commercial In2O3 powders, which is caused by the increasing energy gap resulted from decreasing the grain size. A relatively strong and broad purple-blue emission band centered at 440 nm was observed in the room temperature PL spectrum of 1D In2O3 nanotube bundles, which was mainly attributed to the existence of the oxygen vacancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Nearly monodisperse single-crystalline In(OH)3 nanocubes were successfully synthesized using In(NO3)3⋅4.5H2O as indium source in the presence of urea and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) by a two-step hydrothermal process: the stock solution was heated at 70 °C for 24 h and then at 120 °C for 12 h. The structure and morphology of the resultant In(OH)3 samples were determined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results revealed that most of as-synthesized In(OH)3 nanocubes were uniform in size, with the average edge length of ∼700 nm. The influences of the reaction temperature, the reaction time, the mineralizer, and the surfactant on the morphology of the obtained products were discussed in detail. Room-temperature photoluminescence (PL) spectrum of the In(OH)3 nanocubes showed a peculiar strong emission peak centered at 480 nm. Furthermore, the photocatalytic properties of the In(OH)3 nanocubes were tested. It was found that In(OH)3 exhibited not only higher activity for benzene removal, but also better H2 evolution from water than the commercial Degussa P25 TiO2. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The development of highly active and stable photocatalysts, an effective way to remediate environment pollution and alleviate energy shortages, remains a challenging issue. In this work, a CdIn2S4/In(OH)3 nanocomposite was deposited in-situ on NiCr-LDH nanosheets by a simple hydrothermal method, and the obtained CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH heterostructure photocatalysts with multiple intimate-contact interfaces exhibited better photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH increased to 10.9 and 58.7 times that of the counterparts CdIn2S4 and NiCr-LDH, respectively. Moreover, the photocatalytic removal efficiency of Cr(VI) increased from 6% for NiCr-LDH and 75% for CdIn2S4 to 97% for CdIn2S4/In(OH)3/NiCr-LDH. The enhanced photocatalytic performance was attributed to the formation of multi-interfaces with strong interfacial interactions and staggered band alignments, which offered multiple pathways for carrier migration, thus promoting the separation efficiency of photo-excited electrons and holes. This study demonstrates a facile method to fabricate inexpensive and efficient heterostructure photocatalysts for solving environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aromatic hydrocarbon is a representative type of VOCs, which causes adverse effects to human health. The degradation stability of aromatic hydrocarbon is of vital importance to commercializing a photocatalyst for its practical application. The most commonly used titanium dioxide photocatalyst (P25) was deactivated rapidly in the photocatalytic VOCs degradation process. In this work, the indium hydroxide (In(OH) 3) photocatalyst was developed, which exhibited not only higher efficient activity but also ultra-stable stability for degradation of benzene, toluene and their mixtures. The origin of the activity difference between two catalysts was investigated by combined experimental and theoretical ways. Based on in situ DRIFTS and GC-MS, it was revealed that benzoic acid and carbonaceous byproducts were specifically formed and accumulated on P25, which were responsible for deactivation of photocatalyst. In contrast, as revealed by both DFT calculations and experimental results, the reaction pathway with byproducts blocking the active sites can be thermodynamically avoided on In(OH) 3. This rendered high durability to In(OH) 3 photocatalyst in degradations of aromatic pollutants. The elucidation of deactivation-resistant effect and reaction mechanism as an ideal photocatalyst for practical usage were provided. [Display omitted] • Durable photocatalytic decomposition of VOCs was achieved on In(OH) 3. • The benzoic acid and carbonaceous byproducts were accumulated on P25. • The reaction pathway with byproducts can be avoided on In(OH) 3. • The reaction mechanisms of photocatalytic decomposition of VOCs was proposed. • The elucidation of deactivation-resistant mechanism on In(OH) 3 were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of the In(OH) 3 species modified ZnS (ZnS–In(OH) 3 X% (X ​= ​2, 5, 7, 10)) photocatalysts were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. ZnS–In(OH) 3 X% (X ​= ​2, 5, 7, 10) exhibited the improvement of photocatalytic activity for the photoreduction of CO 2 into CO compared with ZnS. Characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transforms infrared spectra (FT-IR), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) valence band spectra, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra, photoluminescence (PL) and time-resolved PL decay curves, the crystal structure, band structure and behaviors of photogenerated charge carriers for photocatalyst were explored up. It was revealed that the modification of In(OH) 3 surface species on surface of ZnS can prolong the fluorescence lifetimes of photogenerated charge carriers, enhance the separate of photoinduced charge carriers efficiently and promote better matching between the band structure and the redox potential of the CO 2 /CO, resulting in improvement of photocatalytic activity efficiently for ZnS–In(OH) 3 X% (X ​= ​2, 5, 7, 10) photocatalysts. This work may offer a new understanding to study the effect of surface species modification on photocatalytic performance of photocatalyst. Image 1 A series of the In(OH) 3 species modified ZnS (ZnS–In(OH) 3 X%) photocatalysts were synthesized by a hydrothermal method. In(OH) 3 exists as surface species on the ZnS–In(OH) 3 X% (X ​= ​2,5,7,10) photocatalysts. The In(OH) 3 modified ZnS photocatalysts show an enhanced catalytic performance of photoreduction CO 2 into CO under UV light irradiation. • A series of In(OH) 3 modified ZnS photocatalysts are prepared using the sol-gel method. • In(OH) 3 exists as surface species on the ZnS– In(OH) 3 X% (X ​= ​2,5,7,10) photocatalysts. • The photocatalysts exhibit an enhanced activity on reduction of CO 2 into CO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ growth heterojunction Zn m In 2 S 3+m /In(OH) 3 with a continuous changing conduction band that can promote the photogenerated charge separation and transfer efficiently. • In(OH) 3 was in situ grown on ZnIn 2 S 4 under alkaline hydrothermal condition. • ZnIn 2 S 4 was changed to Zn m In 2 S 3+m with variable m in different parts. • Concentration gradient Zn m In 2 S 3+m showed a continuously changing band structure. • Zn m In 2 S 3+m /In(OH) 3 promoted efficient charge separation and transfer. • Zn m In 2 S 3+m /In(OH) 3 had improved photocatalytic H 2 generation. Building a heterojunction composite which contains two or more semiconductors with matching energy band structures is an effective way to boost the photocatalytic performance. In this paper, a perfectly matching heterojunction constructed by semiconductors with a continuously changing energy band structure was demonstrated. It was found that migration of indium in layered ZnIn 2 S 4 could be driven from the bulk to the surface under alkaline condition. Based on this, In(OH) 3 was in situ grown on the surface of ZnIn 2 S 4 , and meanwhile, ZnIn 2 S 4 was converted to Zn m In 2 S 3+m with m continuously variable. Due to the concentration gradient of indium, the conduction band (CB) of Zn m In 2 S 3+m /In(OH) 3 , which was formed by In5s5p orbitals mixed with Zn4s4p orbitals, displays a continuous change that can efficiently promote photogenerated charge separation and transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• OV-induced In(OH) 3 /carbon nitride heterojunction was firstly synthesized. • The heterojunction was prepared by a facile and readily method at moderate condition. • The heterojunction showed excellent NH 3 generation rate to be 3.81 mM /h per 1 g. • The "trap effect" of OVs on In(OH) 3 accounts for enhancement of photocatalytic activity. A promising and practicable catalyst is the key challenge for industrial perspective to promote photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. In this study, a new 0D /2D heterojunction, oxygen vacancy-induced In(OH) 3 /carbon nitride (OV-In(OH) 3 /CN), was synthesized by generating In(OH) 3 nanoparticles on g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets in the presence of glyoxal through a facile and readily precipitation growth method at 60℃and under atmospheric pressure. The existence of oxygen vacancies, structure, morphology and optical-electronic properties of the composite were characterized by HRTEM, XPS and EPR analysis and other measurements. The OV-In(OH) 3 /CN heterojunction exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for nitrogen fixation with a good chemical stability. The OV-In/CN-3 sample reached the maximum NH 3 generation rate to be 3.81 mM*h−1*g−1, which was about 10 times as that of pure g-C 3 N 4 and was also higher than that of other catalysts reported. Though the In(OH) 3 in heterojunction was demonstrated incapable of producing photogenerated electrons under vis-light irradiation, its oxygen vacancy was found to "receive" and "trap" some excited electrons from g-C 3 N 4 , promoting electron-hole pairs separation efficiency and prolonging the lifetime of carriers. And it also can introduce many chemisorption sites for N 2. Those are the two key reasons for its high photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The In2.77S4 microspheres had been firstly fabricated by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the morphological modifier and then used to hybridize with In(OH)3 nanocubes by a simply depositional method. The structure, optical properties, morphology, chemical compositions, and charge carrier behaviors of the as-prepared In2.77S4/In(OH)3 composites were characterized, respectively. The methyl orange, tetracycline, rhodamine B, and Cr(VI) dilute solution were selected to evaluate their photocatalytic activities. Experimental results showed that In(OH)3 nanocubes could improve the photocatalytic activity and recyclability of the In2.77S4 microspheres under the visible light irradiation. With the usage of In(OH)3 increased, the photocatalytic efficiency of the hybrids was firstly increased and then decreased. When the mass ratios of In2.77S4 to In(OH)3 were 6:2, it reached the maximum of 100% in 15 min for methyl orange, obviously higher than 67.4% of In2.77S4 and 1.1% of In(OH)3. Meanwhile, it could also oxidize 85.6% of tetracycline in 20 min, 97.8% of rhodamine B in 7.5 min, and reduce 92.9% of Cr(VI) in 30 min under the visible light irradiation. Moreover, it could still degrade 91.7% of methyl orange solution after 3 cycles, which was much higher than 40.7% of In2.77S4 microspheres. In addition, the possible mechanism of enhancing photocatalytic properties was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]