Snowflake like Cu58S32/Cu-BDC-NH2 Binary Heterostructure Towards Photocatalytic H2 generation and O2 Reduction

Abstract

In this study, a novel one-pot Cu1.81S/Cu-BDC-NH2 (CSM) binary heterostructure is synthesized via a facile hydrothermal route. The crystallinity and phase purity of pristine as well as composite are studied by PXRD techniques. With the variation of sulfur source, different morphologies of Cu1.81S (CS) like nanoplate and snowflake are induced. Cu-BDCNH2 MOF (CM) is fabricated over the CS phase by using it as Cu-source. The structural and textural properties of pristine and CSM composites are studied by FTIR, Raman, XPS, EPR, TGA, BET, and contact angle techniques. Furthermore, the optical features are explored by UV-Vis DRS and PL spectroscopy. The nature of semiconductors with their charge dynamics is investigated by electrochemical techniques. These synthesized materials are subjected to photocatalytic H2 evolution (PHE) as well as O2 reduction (POR). It is found that between the two morphologies, the composite with snowflake-like morphology CSM-7 displays superior photocatalytic activities. The mechanistic study revealed the construction of CS/CM interfacial p-n heterojunction. Due to suitable band alignment, the charge channelization between two pristine semiconductors follows the S-scheme mechanism. This S-scheme charge migration is highly efficient for e- /h+ separation which boosts PHE and POR