Highly dispersed copper cobalt oxide nanoclusters decorated carbon nitride with efficient heterogeneous interfaces for enhanced H2 evolution

Z-Scheme highly dispersed bimetallic CuCo2O4/g-C3N4 heterojunction was fabricated, which shows much higher activity than that of single metal CuO/g-C3N4 or Co3O4/g-C3N4 composite. It is found that the faster H2 evolution kinetics and larger number of surface acidity sites of CuCo2O4/g-C3N4 are responsible for its good performance in triethanolamine solution. [Display omitted] Photocatalytic reaction refers to a sophisticated heterogeneous catalyzing process. Exploring the interfacial reaction of catalysts will provide insights into efficient artificial photosynthetic system and promote its design. In this study, highly dispersed bimetallic CuCo2O4 nanoclusters decorated g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalyst was produced by in-situ deposition of 0D CuCo2O4 spinel on the 2D g-C3N4 surface. Compared with CuO or Co3O4 modified g-C3N4, the optimal composite exhibits a significantly higher H2 evolution rate of 4187.6 μmol∙gcat−1∙h−1 with an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 4.57% under the irradiation of monochromatic light (400 ± 7.5 nm) in the absence of noble metal. As suggested from the results of the photoelectrochemistry characterizations and NH3-temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) analysis, CuCo2O4/g-C3N4 exhibited faster HER kinetics and considerable surface acidity sites, and it facilitated triethanolamine (TEOA) chemisorption and H2 evolution, further highlighting the merits of such mixed-metal compounds. Moreover, the transfer pathway of charge carriers between CuCo2O4 and g-C3N4 heterogeneous interface was demonstrated by photo-degradation of RhB and selective photo-deposition Pt nanoparticles.