Atomic Dispersed Co on NC@Cu Core-Shells for Solar Seawater Splitting

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Freshwater scarcity drives demand for alternative hydrogen production methods.
• Photocatalytic seawater splitting is a promising sustainable energy technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, efficient, and stable photocatalyst for solar-driven seawater splitting.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of core-shell structure, single-atom doping, and plasmonic enhancement.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a core-shell photocatalyst: Cu core coated with N-doped carbon and decorated with single Cobalt atoms (Co-NC@Cu).
• Characterization of the photocatalyst's structure, composition, and optical properties.
• Evaluation of photocatalytic hydrogen production performance in seawater under solar irradiation.
• Theoretical calculations to understand reaction mechanisms and active sites.

Main Results:

• The Co-NC@Cu photocatalyst achieved a hydrogen production rate of 9080 µmolg^-1h^-1 with 4.78% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency.
• Demonstrated exceptional long-term stability, operating continuously for over 340 hours.
• Photothermal effect, salt-ion polarization, broad light absorption, and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) contributed to enhanced performance.

Conclusions:

• The Co-NC@Cu catalyst offers a highly efficient and stable solution for solar-driven seawater splitting.
• Integrating core-shell design, single-atom active sites, and plasmonic effects is crucial for advanced photocatalyst development.
• This study provides a pathway for sustainable hydrogen production from abundant seawater resources.