Highly Dispersed Copper Cobalt Oxide Nanoclusters Decorated Carbon Nitride with Efficient Heterogeneous Interfaces for Enhanced H Evolution

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 CuCoO nanoclusters decorated g-CN heterojunction photocatalyst was produced by in-situ deposition of 0D CuCoO spinel on the 2D g-CN surface. Compared with CuO or CoO modified g-CN, the optimal composite exhibits a significantly higher H evolution rate of 4187.6 μmol∙g∙h 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 NH-temperature programmed desorption (NH-TPD) analysis, CuCoO/g-CN exhibited faster HER kinetics and considerable surface acidity sites, and it facilitated triethanolamine (TEOA) chemisorption and H evolution, further highlighting the merits of such mixed-metal compounds. Moreover, the transfer pathway of charge carriers between CuCoO and g-CN heterogeneous interface was demonstrated by photo-degradation of RhB and selective photo-deposition Pt nanoparticles.