Partial phosphating of Ni-MOFs and Cu2S snowflakes form 2D/2D structure for efficiently improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

2D Cu2S snowflakes and 2D Ni-MOFs flakes were synthesized by hydrothermal method, and Ni-MOFs were calcined with sodium hypophosphite at 200 degrees C to form Ni-MOFs-P (Ni-MOFs/Ni2P). In the physical mixing process, since the -formation temperature of Cu2S is at 80 degrees C, the physical mixing temperature was controlled at 80 degrees C, which is advantageous for achieving a close 2D/2D contact. The results showed that 15 vol% TEOA with pH = 10 was used as sacrificent reagent under 5WLED simulated visible light. 20 mg of EY was used as a photosensitizer. CNP60 had the best hydrogen evolution performance within 5 h, which was 3122.76 mmol g(-1) h(-1). The hydrogen evolution rate of CNP60 is 8.72 fold, 3.37 fold, and 91.85 fold faster than that of Ni-MOFs, Ni-MOFs-P, and Cu2S, respectively. Ni-MOFs phosphating and Cu2S loading can reduce the photocatalyst's photogenerated electron and hole recombination efficiency. This significant improvement was achieved through XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, UTV-Visible DRS, transient photocurrent, steady-state fluorescence, short fluorescence, related substance reporting studies, radical hydroxyl trapping, and more. The results show that the 2D/2D assembled CNP can effectively enhance the ability to reduce H*, and a possible photocatalytic hydrogen production mechanism is proposed. (c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

2D Cu2S snowflakes and 2D Ni-MOFs flakes were synthesized and Ni-MOFs were converted into Ni-MOFs-P through calcination. Ni-MOFs phosphating and Cu2S loading can enhance the hydrogen evolution performance of the photocatalyst.