Cu2O/CuInS2/TiO2 double S-scheme heterojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Titanium dioxide (TiO2) suffers from limited light absorption and high charge carrier recombination, hindering its efficiency in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.
• Developing advanced catalysts is crucial for efficient solar fuel production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and construct a novel Cu2O/CuInS2/TiO2 catalyst with double step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunctions.
• To enhance photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by improving light absorption and charge separation.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a ternary composite catalyst: Cu2O/CuInS2/TiO2.
• Construction of double S-scheme heterojunctions to facilitate charge carrier separation.
• Characterization of material properties and photocatalytic performance evaluation.

Main Results:

• The Cu2O/CuInS2/TiO2 catalyst demonstrated a significantly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 1610 μmol g-1 h-1.
• The observed rate is 3.8 times higher than that of pristine TiO2, attributed to efficient carrier separation and broad light absorption.
• The double S-scheme heterojunction architecture effectively suppressed carrier recombination.

Conclusions:

• The designed double S-scheme heterojunction catalyst offers a promising strategy for enhancing photocatalytic hydrogen production.
• This work provides valuable insights into the development of efficient wide-bandgap photocatalysts for renewable energy applications.