Cube‐in‐Cube Hollow Cu₉S₅ Nanostructures with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities in Solar H₂ Evolution

Abstract

Hydrogen produced from water under solar energy is an ideal clean energy source, and the efficiency of hydrogen production usually depends on the catalytic systems based on new compounds and/or a unique nanostructure. Herein, well-defined cube-in-cube hollow Cu9 S5 nanostructures have been successfully prepared with Cu2 O nanocubes and CS2 as precursors, and single-shell hollow Cu9 S5 nanocubes could be obtained by replacing CS2 with Na2 S. The formation mechanism of cube-in-cube hollow nanostructures has been proposed based on the Kirkendell effect and an outward self-assembly process. Further studies revealed that the cube-in-cube hollow Cu9 S5 nanostructures exhibited better photocatalytic activity toward solar H2 evolution and would be a promising photocatalyst in the solar hydrogen industry.

Photocatalysis for Hydrogen Production and CO2 Reduction: The Case of Copper‐Catalysts

“…However, CdS is susceptible in photocorrosion phenomena with detrimental environmental impact. Copper chalcogenides and in particular copper sulfides including ternary and quaternary copper sulfide derivatives using transition and main‐group metals as well as heterojunctions with metal oxides and other chalcogenides have been developed and applied in photocatalytic H 2 production. Once again, the interest in such materials originates from their response to visible light, non‐toxicity and the abundance and low cost of raw materials.…”

“…Xu et al. studied the photocatalytic production of H 2 using hollow Cu 9 S 5 nanocubes under simulated sunlight irradiation and highlighted the importance of the morphology in activity . The authors using Cu 2 O nanocubes as precursor they developed single‐shell hollow Cu 9 S 5 nanocubes and hierarchical cube‐in‐ cube hollow Cu 9 S 5 nanostructures under hydrothermal conditions, presenting similar textural and electronic properties.…”

“…The authors using Cu 2 O nanocubes as precursor they developed single‐shell hollow Cu 9 S 5 nanocubes and hierarchical cube‐in‐ cube hollow Cu 9 S 5 nanostructures under hydrothermal conditions, presenting similar textural and electronic properties. The improved H 2 production of the hierarchical structure was assigned to the multiple light reflection and scattering between the cubic shells that greatly enhanced light absorption …”

Band-structure-controlled BiO(ClBr)(1−x)/2Ix solid solutions for visible-light photocatalysis

“…6,45,46,52 So far, these processes have been well explored by many reports, but actually, they are highly dependent on the properties of the photocatalytic system. [53][54][55][56][57] Therefore, the Fermi levels of these solid solutions can be determined. This ambiguity in the reaction process drives us to gure out what actually occurs on the as-prepared BiO(ClBr) (1Àx)/2 I x solid solutions during photocatalytic measurement.…”

Hollow CuS Microcube Electrocatalysts for CO2 Reduction Reaction

“…The Cu 2 O MCs precursors was prepared through a minor modification of a previously reported method . Typically, polyvinylpynolidone (PVP; 0.10 g) was added in an aqueous solution of CuSO 4 (50.0 mL, 0.018 mol/L) under magnetic stirring with adding an aqueous solution of NaOH (12.5 mL, 2.70 mol/L).…”