Non-graphitized carbon/Cu2O/Cu0 nanohybrids with improved stability and enhanced photocatalytic H2 production
Abstract Cu2O is a highly potent photocatalyst, however photocorrosion stands as a key obstacle for its stability in photocatalytic technologies. Herein, we show that nanohybrids of Cu2O/Cu0 nanoparticles interfaced with non-graphitized carbon (nGC) constitute a novel synthesis route towards stable...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41211-4 |
| _version_ | 1827634708295450624 |
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| author | Areti Zindrou Loukas Belles Maria Solakidou Nikos Boukos Yiannis Deligiannakis |
| author_facet | Areti Zindrou Loukas Belles Maria Solakidou Nikos Boukos Yiannis Deligiannakis |
| author_sort | Areti Zindrou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cu2O is a highly potent photocatalyst, however photocorrosion stands as a key obstacle for its stability in photocatalytic technologies. Herein, we show that nanohybrids of Cu2O/Cu0 nanoparticles interfaced with non-graphitized carbon (nGC) constitute a novel synthesis route towards stable Cu-photocatalysts with minimized photocorrosion. Using a Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP) process that allows synthesis of anoxic-Cu phases, we have developed in one-step a library of Cu2O/Cu0 nanocatalysts interfaced with nGC, optimized for enhanced photocatalytic H2 production from H2O. Co-optimization of the nGC and the Cu2O/Cu0 ratio is shown to be a key strategy for high H2 production, > 4700 μmoles g−1 h−1 plus enhanced stability against photocorrosion, and onset potential of 0.234 V vs. RHE. After 4 repetitive reuses the catalyst is shown to lose less than 5% of its photocatalytic efficiency, while photocorrosion was < 6%. In contrast, interfacing of Cu2O/Cu0 with graphitized-C is not as efficient. Raman, FT-IR and TGA data are analyzed to explain the undelaying structural functional mechanisms where the tight interfacing of nGC with the Cu2O/Cu0 nanophases is the preferred configuration. The present findings can be useful for wider technological goals that demand low-cost engineering, high stability Cu-nanodevices, prepared with industrially scalable process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:18:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f01c07985bdc45c3b849de5aa160ca93 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:18:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-f01c07985bdc45c3b849de5aa160ca932023-11-26T13:00:33ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-08-0113111210.1038/s41598-023-41211-4Non-graphitized carbon/Cu2O/Cu0 nanohybrids with improved stability and enhanced photocatalytic H2 productionAreti Zindrou0Loukas Belles1Maria Solakidou2Nikos Boukos3Yiannis Deligiannakis4Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials & Environment, Department of Physics, University of IoanninaLaboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials & Environment, Department of Physics, University of IoanninaLaboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials & Environment, Department of Physics, University of IoanninaInstitute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (INN), NCSR DemokritosLaboratory of Physical Chemistry of Materials & Environment, Department of Physics, University of IoanninaAbstract Cu2O is a highly potent photocatalyst, however photocorrosion stands as a key obstacle for its stability in photocatalytic technologies. Herein, we show that nanohybrids of Cu2O/Cu0 nanoparticles interfaced with non-graphitized carbon (nGC) constitute a novel synthesis route towards stable Cu-photocatalysts with minimized photocorrosion. Using a Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP) process that allows synthesis of anoxic-Cu phases, we have developed in one-step a library of Cu2O/Cu0 nanocatalysts interfaced with nGC, optimized for enhanced photocatalytic H2 production from H2O. Co-optimization of the nGC and the Cu2O/Cu0 ratio is shown to be a key strategy for high H2 production, > 4700 μmoles g−1 h−1 plus enhanced stability against photocorrosion, and onset potential of 0.234 V vs. RHE. After 4 repetitive reuses the catalyst is shown to lose less than 5% of its photocatalytic efficiency, while photocorrosion was < 6%. In contrast, interfacing of Cu2O/Cu0 with graphitized-C is not as efficient. Raman, FT-IR and TGA data are analyzed to explain the undelaying structural functional mechanisms where the tight interfacing of nGC with the Cu2O/Cu0 nanophases is the preferred configuration. The present findings can be useful for wider technological goals that demand low-cost engineering, high stability Cu-nanodevices, prepared with industrially scalable process.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41211-4 |
| spellingShingle | Areti Zindrou Loukas Belles Maria Solakidou Nikos Boukos Yiannis Deligiannakis Non-graphitized carbon/Cu2O/Cu0 nanohybrids with improved stability and enhanced photocatalytic H2 production Scientific Reports |
| title | Non-graphitized carbon/Cu2O/Cu0 nanohybrids with improved stability and enhanced photocatalytic H2 production |
| title_full | Non-graphitized carbon/Cu2O/Cu0 nanohybrids with improved stability and enhanced photocatalytic H2 production |
| title_fullStr | Non-graphitized carbon/Cu2O/Cu0 nanohybrids with improved stability and enhanced photocatalytic H2 production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Non-graphitized carbon/Cu2O/Cu0 nanohybrids with improved stability and enhanced photocatalytic H2 production |
| title_short | Non-graphitized carbon/Cu2O/Cu0 nanohybrids with improved stability and enhanced photocatalytic H2 production |
| title_sort | non graphitized carbon cu2o cu0 nanohybrids with improved stability and enhanced photocatalytic h2 production |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41211-4 |
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