Cu2O/Cu2S microstructure regulation towards high efficiency photocatalytic hydrogen production and its theoretical mechanism analysis

Cu2O with a cubic structure was prepared by a water bath method, and then a Cu2O/Cu2S core-shell material was obtained by the redox reaction of Cu2O and Na2S with the prepared cubic Cu2O as a template and Na2S & BULL;9H(2)O solution as the reaction solution. At the same time, the effect of sulfidization time on the Cu2O/Cu2S structure and photohydrogen production performance was studied. The structure of the samples was further confirmed and characterized through SEM, HRTEM, XRD and XPS. The photohydrogen production properties of the Cu2O/Cu2S composites with different morphologies were tested. The flower-shaped hollow structure of Cu2O/Cu2S can be obtained by proper sulfidization, and the hydrogen production can reach 1076.95 & mu;mol g(-1) after 5 h of illumination. Then, through photocurrent response and impedance spectrum tests and DFT calculations, it is proved that the Cu2O/Cu2S heterostructure can effectively improve the photoresponse ability and carrier transport properties. It was confirmed that the interfacial charge transfer in Cu2O/Cu2S helped increase the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance.