Enhanced photocatalytic performance of Cu2O/MoS2/ZnO composites on Cu mesh substrate for nitrogen reduction

Cu2O nanoparticles and MoS2 nanoflowers decorated with ZnO nanospheres were successfully co-deposited on Cu mesh via a mild electrodeposition method to build a dual direct Z-scheme heterostructure. The prepared materials can effectively synthesize ammonia with N-2 and H2O in the liquid membrane reactor under simulated visible light. The results indicate that 3D nanomaterials exhibit better performance compared to a pure semiconductor due to the synergistic effect of enhanced visible light absorption, longer photogenerated carrier lifetime and the specific charge transfer path of dual direct Z-scheme structure. Meanwhile, the hydrophilicity of Cu2O/MoS2/ZnO rapidly makes the surface of the catalyst wet when it participates in the photo reaction, which promotes the contact between the reactant and exciton. This work proposes the electron transfer and possible reaction mechanism corresponding to the designed catalyst, which can provide a reference for other photocatalytic applications using a semiconductor heterojunction as a catalyst.

Automated summary

In this research, Cu2O nanoparticles and MoS2 nanoflowers decorated with ZnO nanospheres were successfully co-deposited on copper mesh via a mild electrodepositing method to create a dual direct Z-scheme heterostructure. The prepared materials showed efficient synthesis of ammonia under simulated visible light, showcasing improved performance compared to pure semiconductors due to enhanced visible light absorption, longer photogenerated carrier lifetime, and a specific charge transfer path of the dual direct Z-scheme structure. The hydrophilicity of the Cu2O/MoS2/ZnO catalyst also played a role in promoting contact between reactants and excitons during photo reactions. This study proposed an electron transfer and reaction mechanism for the designed catalyst, providing valuable insights for other photocatalytic applications utilizing semiconductor heterojunctions as catalysts.