Work

Preparation and Hydrogen Production Application of Core–Shell Heterojunction Photocatalyst (PbS/ZnO)@CuS

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This study employed a hydrothermal method to coat CuS onto PbS quantum dots loaded with ZnO, resulting in a core–shell-structured (PbS/ZnO)@CuS hetero-structured photocatalyst. The sulfide coating enhanced the photocatalyst’s absorption in the near-infrared to visible light range and effectively reduced electron–hole (h+) pair recombination during photocatalytic processes. Electron microscopy analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of this core–shell structure using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP); however, the spatial hindrance effect of PVP led to a disordered arrangement of the CuS lattice, facilitating electron–hole recombination. Comprehensive analyses using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) methods revealed that the (PbS/ZnO)@CuS photocatalyst synthesized at a hydrothermal temperature of 170 °C exhibited optimal hydrogen production efficiency. After conducting a photocatalytic reaction for 5 h in a mixed aqueous solution containing 0.25 M Na2S + Na2SO3 as a sacrificial agent, a hydrogen production rate of 3473 μmol·g−1·h−1 was achieved.

Source: Materials

DOI: 10.3390/ma18010005

Authors: Ming-Huan Chiu, Wein-Duo Yang

Institution: National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,955