Construct 3D NiCo-LDH/Cu2O p-n heterojunction via electrostatic selfassembly for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Construct 3D NiCo-LDH/Cu2O p-n heterojunction via electrostatic selfassembly for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Hydrogen evolution of inorganic photocatalysts is currently a hot research topic. In order to preparehighly efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution, p-n type heterojunctions were successfully constructedby closely combining p-type Cu2O and n-type NiCo-LDH with opposite electrical properties by a simpleelectrostatic self-assembly. In addition, because the positions of the two single catalysts NiCo-LDH andCu2O Fermi levels are dissimilar from those of traditional p-n heterojunctions, the extremely high movementof Fermi levels forms a strong built-in electric field, which powerfully prevents the gradient diffusionof charge and facilitates the migration of intrinsic photocarriers. Furthermore, the flower clusterNiCo-LDH is composed of two-dimensional thin sheet structure, which has a large specific surface areaand can prevent Cu2O agglomeration. Under the condition of using triethanolamine solution and eosinY (EY) respectively as sacrifice reagent reducing agent and photosensitizer, the composite catalyst hasreached 18332 lmolg1 in 5 h, which was increased by 8.5 times compared to the pure Cu2O. Thisresearch provides an innovative strategy to construct a heterojunction between a metal double-layerhydroxide and a non-noble metal oxide to realize an effective photocatalytic hydrogen production.

Hydrogen evolution of inorganic photocatalysts is currently a hot research topic. In order to preparehighly efficient catalysts for hydrogen evolution, p-n type heterojunctions were successfully constructedby closely combining p-type Cu2O and n-type NiCo-LDH with opposite electrical properties by a simpleelectrostatic self-assembly. In addition, because the positions of the two single catalysts NiCo-LDH andCu2O Fermi levels are dissimilar from those of traditional p-n heterojunctions, the extremely high movementof Fermi levels forms a strong built-in electric field, which powerfully prevents the gradient diffusionof charge and facilitates the migration of intrinsic photocarriers. Furthermore, the flower clusterNiCo-LDH is composed of two-dimensional thin sheet structure, which has a large specific surface areaand can prevent Cu2O agglomeration. Under the condition of using triethanolamine solution and eosinY (EY) respectively as sacrifice reagent reducing agent and photosensitizer, the composite catalyst hasreached 18332 lmolg1 in 5 h, which was increased by 8.5 times compared to the pure Cu2O. Thisresearch provides an innovative strategy to construct a heterojunction between a metal double-layerhydroxide and a non-noble metal oxide to realize an effective photocatalytic hydrogen production.