Construction of Core-Shelled Hollow Cupc/Zn0.5cd0.5s Photocatalyst for Stable Hydrogen Evolution Under Visible-Light Irradiation

Developing visible light activated photocatalysts is highly important to meet future energy crisis. Hollow structure can greatly promote light harvesting and enlarge specific surface area for photo-generated carriers reaction sites. Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) as p-type semiconductor has merits of fast holes transfer and high chemical stability. In this work, hollow core-shelled CuPc/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S composite photocatalyst was designed by facile solution method. Under visible light (λ > 400 nm) irradiation, the CuPc/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S photocatalyst exhibits eminent hydrogen evolution, up to 29.16 mmol/g·h, 3.5 times higher than pristine hollow Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S nanoflower (8.42 mmol/g·h) without noble metal as co-catalyst. Meanwhile, the lifetime of carriers prolongs from 0.765 s (Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S) to 1.05 s (CuPc/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S-4%) calculated by open-circuit potential, besides the apparent quantum yield reaches up to 6.95% at 400 nm irradiation. In addition, photocorrosion of CdS phase dissolution is greatly restrained due to easily transfer of holes to CuPc. These results indicate that CuPc/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S heterojunction owns great visible-light absorption and extra high and stable photocatalysis hydrogen evolution property. The organic-inorganic hybrid photocatayst shows countless potential on future green energy harvesting.