Novel Cu2S quantum dots coupled flower-like BiOBr for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light

Abstract

Cu₂S quantum dots (QDs) coupled three-dimensional (3D) flower-like hierarchical BiOBr (QDs-Cu₂S/BiOBr) were prepared via a simple precipitation method. The Cu₂S QDs, with an average diameters of 10 nm, were uniformly attached on the surface of BiOBr with an intimate contact interface as evidenced by characterization of the structure and composition of the composite. The QDs-Cu₂S/BiOBr composite exhibited enhanced water splitting for hydrogen evolution, and 717 μmol g⁻¹ of H₂ was produced with 3 wt% QDs-Cu₂S/BiOBr containing 1 wt% Pt, which was 3.1 times higher than that of Cu₂S nanoparticles. The enhancement of hydrogen evolution was attributed to the synergic effect between BiOBr and Cu₂S QDs, where the hybridization could effectively accelerate the separation of the photogenerated charge carriers.