title: Visible light photocatalytic H₂-production activity of CuS/ZnS porous nanosheets based on photoinduced interfacial charge transfer.
abstract: Visible light photocatalytic H(2) production through water splitting is of great importance for its potential application in converting solar energy into chemical energy. In this study, a novel visible-light-driven photocatalyst was designed based on photoinduced interfacial charge transfer (IFCT) through surface modification of ZnS porous nanosheets by CuS. CuS/ZnS porous nanosheet photocatalysts were prepared by a simple hydrothermal and cation exchange reaction between preformed ZnS(en)(0.5) nanosheets and Cu(NO(3))(2). Even without a Pt cocatalyst, the as-prepared CuS/ZnS porous nanosheets reach a high H(2)-production rate of 4147 μmol h(-1) g(-1) at CuS loading content of 2 mol % and an apparent quantum efficiency of 20% at 420 nm. This high visible light photocatalytic H(2)-production activity is due to the IFCT from the valence band of ZnS to CuS, which causes the reduction of partial CuS to Cu(2)S and thus enhances H(2)-production activity. This work not only shows a possibility for substituting low-cost CuS for noble metals in the photocatalytic H(2) production but also for the first time exhibits a facile method for enhancing H(2)-production activity by photoinduced IFCT.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Jiaguo
authors: J
authors: Yu
authors: Yimin
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Qin
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Jian Ru
authors: JR
authors: Gong
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity / Q000528:radiation effects; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D017967:Zinc Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D017967:Zinc Compounds; C477347:cupric selenide; D006859:Hydrogen; C044696:zinc selenide