Co-MOF-67 derived hollow double-shell core Co₃O₄ with Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S to construct p-n heterojunction for efficient...

It is an effective way to improve the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity by constructing a unique structure and tuning the morphology of catalysts. On the one hand, ZIF-67 was used as a precursor to prepare Co₃O₄ derivatives with different morphologies [Co₃O₄ (Porous Polyhedron) and Co₃O₄db (Hollow Double-Shelled Polyhedron)]. The hollow polyhedron have the advantages of large specifie surface area, low density, stable three-dimensional spatial structure and excellent electron transport channels, which provide great advantages for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity in photocatalytic reactions. On the flip side, p-type Co₃O₄ polyhedron and n-type Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S nanoparticles are successfully coupled to construct a p-n heterojunction, which accelerated the transfer and separation of electrons and holes, thus enhancing the photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency. Therefore, the composite catalyst (Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S-Co₃O₄db-20 %) exhibits excellent hydrogen evolution activity (33885 μmol·h^-1·g^-1), which is 9.17 times that of pure Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S (3695 μmol·h^-1·g^-1) and 1.21 times that of Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S-Co₃O₄-20 % (27903 μmol·h^-1·g^-1). This work provides a new idea for tuning the photocatalytic morphology to enhance the hydrogen evolution activity.