(183b) Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution from the Heterostructure Photocatalysts | AIChE

(183b) Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution from the Heterostructure Photocatalysts

Authors 

Kim, J. H. - Presenter, University of Seoul
Hetero-component photocatalysts have been considered as promising candidates to overcome fast charge recombination phenomena in solar water splitting process, which maximize electron utilizations in reductive hydrogen generation. However, previously reported multi-component photocatalysts have been rarely fabricated by aids with z-scheme type components. Thus, cuprous and cupric oxides are proposed as an excellent example for a z-scheme system with ZnO base materials. The ZnO particles are firstly synthesized by a precipitation method, and CuS components are added on the ZnO particle surfaces in various compositions. The synthesized ZnO/CuS materials are treated at various oxygen concentrations to form cuprous and cupric oxides. To maximize photoactive electrons for reductive water splitting in conduction bands of the photocatalyst system, optimum content of cuprous oxides in the z-scheme components is a critical factor. At the optimum cuprous content in the copper oxides, the highest hydrogen production rate is achieved.