CuCo₂S₄Deposited on TiO₂: Controlling the pH Value Boosts Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

Metallic spinel-type CuCo 2 S 4 nanoparticles were deposited on nanocrystalline TiO 2 (P25®), forming heterostructure nanocomposites. The nanocomposites were characterized in detail by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), nitrogen sorption (BET) and UV/Vis spectroscopy. Variation of the CuCo 2 S 4 :TiO 2 ratio to an optimum value generated a catalyst which shows a very