Converting solar energy into clean and sustainable chemical fuels is a promising strategy for exploiting renewable energy.The application of photocatalytic water splitting technology in hydrogen production is importan...Converting solar energy into clean and sustainable chemical fuels is a promising strategy for exploiting renewable energy.The application of photocatalytic water splitting technology in hydrogen production is important for sustainable energy development and environmental protection.In this study,for the first time,2D Cu7S4 co-catalysts were coupled on the surface of a CdS nanosheet photocatalyst by a one-step ultrasonic-assisted electrostatic self-assembly method at room temperature.The as-fabricated 2D^-2D CdS/Cu7S4 layered heterojunctions were demonstrated to be advanced composite photocatalysts that enhance the water splitting efficiency toward hydrogen production.The highest hydrogen evolution rate of the 2D^-2D CdS/2%Cu7S4 binary heterojunction photocatalyst was up to 27.8 mmol g^-1 h^-1 under visible light irradiation,with an apparent quantum efficiency of 14.7%at 420 nm,which was almost 10.69 times and 2.65 times higher than those of pure CdS nanosheets(2.6 mmol g^-1 h^-1)and CdS-2%CuS(10.5 mmol g^-1 h^-1),respectively.The establishment of the CdS/Cu7S4 binary-layered heterojunction could not only enhance the separation of photogenerated electron-hole(e--h+)pairs,improve the transfer of photo-excited electrons,and prolong the life-span of photo-generated electrons,but also enhance the light absorption and hydrogen-evolution kinetics.All these factors are important for the enhancement of the photocatalytic activity.Expectedly,the 2D^-2D interface coupling strategy based on CdS NSs can be extensively exploited to improve the hydrogen-evolution activity over various kinds of conventional semiconductor NSs.展开更多
The development of low-cost semiconductor photocatalysts for highly efficient and durable photocatalytic H2 evolution under visible light is very challenging.In this study,we combine low-cost metallic Ni3C cocatalysts...The development of low-cost semiconductor photocatalysts for highly efficient and durable photocatalytic H2 evolution under visible light is very challenging.In this study,we combine low-cost metallic Ni3C cocatalysts with twin nanocrystal Zn0.5Cd0.5S(ZCS)solid solution homojunctions for an efficient visible-light-driven H2 production by a simple approach.As-synthesized Zn0.5Cd0.5S-1%Ni3C(ZCS-1)heterojunction/homojunction nanohybrid exhibited the highest photocatalytic H2-evolution rate of 783μmol h‒1 under visible light,which is 2.88 times higher than that of pristine twin nanocrystal ZCS solid solution.The apparent quantum efficiencies of ZCS and ZCS-1 are measured to be 6.13%and 19.25%at 420 nm,respectively.Specifically,the homojunctions between the zinc blende and wurtzite segments in twin nanocrystal ZCS solid solution can significantly improve the light absorption and separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.Furthermore,the heterojunction between ZCS and metallic Ni3C NP cocatalysts can efficiently trap excited electrons from ZCS solid solution and enhance the H2-evolution kinetics at the surface for improving catalytic activity.This study demonstrates a unique one-step strategy for constructing heterojunction/homojunction hybrid nanostructures for a more efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution compared to other noble metal photocatalytic systems.展开更多
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21975084,51672089)Special Funding on Applied Science and Technology in Guangdong(2017B020238005)+2 种基金the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Material Synthesis and Processing(Wuhan University of Technology)(2015-KF-7)State Scholarship Fund of China Scholarship Council(200808440114)the Ding Ying Talent Project of South China Agricultural University for their support
文摘Converting solar energy into clean and sustainable chemical fuels is a promising strategy for exploiting renewable energy.The application of photocatalytic water splitting technology in hydrogen production is important for sustainable energy development and environmental protection.In this study,for the first time,2D Cu7S4 co-catalysts were coupled on the surface of a CdS nanosheet photocatalyst by a one-step ultrasonic-assisted electrostatic self-assembly method at room temperature.The as-fabricated 2D^-2D CdS/Cu7S4 layered heterojunctions were demonstrated to be advanced composite photocatalysts that enhance the water splitting efficiency toward hydrogen production.The highest hydrogen evolution rate of the 2D^-2D CdS/2%Cu7S4 binary heterojunction photocatalyst was up to 27.8 mmol g^-1 h^-1 under visible light irradiation,with an apparent quantum efficiency of 14.7%at 420 nm,which was almost 10.69 times and 2.65 times higher than those of pure CdS nanosheets(2.6 mmol g^-1 h^-1)and CdS-2%CuS(10.5 mmol g^-1 h^-1),respectively.The establishment of the CdS/Cu7S4 binary-layered heterojunction could not only enhance the separation of photogenerated electron-hole(e--h+)pairs,improve the transfer of photo-excited electrons,and prolong the life-span of photo-generated electrons,but also enhance the light absorption and hydrogen-evolution kinetics.All these factors are important for the enhancement of the photocatalytic activity.Expectedly,the 2D^-2D interface coupling strategy based on CdS NSs can be extensively exploited to improve the hydrogen-evolution activity over various kinds of conventional semiconductor NSs.
文摘The development of low-cost semiconductor photocatalysts for highly efficient and durable photocatalytic H2 evolution under visible light is very challenging.In this study,we combine low-cost metallic Ni3C cocatalysts with twin nanocrystal Zn0.5Cd0.5S(ZCS)solid solution homojunctions for an efficient visible-light-driven H2 production by a simple approach.As-synthesized Zn0.5Cd0.5S-1%Ni3C(ZCS-1)heterojunction/homojunction nanohybrid exhibited the highest photocatalytic H2-evolution rate of 783μmol h‒1 under visible light,which is 2.88 times higher than that of pristine twin nanocrystal ZCS solid solution.The apparent quantum efficiencies of ZCS and ZCS-1 are measured to be 6.13%and 19.25%at 420 nm,respectively.Specifically,the homojunctions between the zinc blende and wurtzite segments in twin nanocrystal ZCS solid solution can significantly improve the light absorption and separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.Furthermore,the heterojunction between ZCS and metallic Ni3C NP cocatalysts can efficiently trap excited electrons from ZCS solid solution and enhance the H2-evolution kinetics at the surface for improving catalytic activity.This study demonstrates a unique one-step strategy for constructing heterojunction/homojunction hybrid nanostructures for a more efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution compared to other noble metal photocatalytic systems.
