Ultrathin Cu2MoS4/g-C3N4 nanosheets for promoting charge separation with strong redox ability and enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production activity

Abstract

Hydrogen energy stands out as one of the most auspicious clean energy prospects, with photocatalytic water splitting emerging as the preeminent method for the efficient production of hydrogen. Combining carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with an oxidized cocatalyst Cu2MoS4 significantly enhances the process for separation of photoinduced holes and photoinduced electrons. In this study, 2D–2D Cu2MoS4/g-C3N4 heterostructure materials using the oil bath method was successfully achieved. The hydrogen production rate of ultrathin 2D–2D Cu2MoS4/g-C3N4 nanosheets is increased by 66 times, reaching 2385 μmol·h−1·g−1. Additionally, insights have been provided through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, showing that the S-type heterojunction formation is a critical factor, which made it possible for photogenerated electrons in g-C3N4 and photogenerated holes in Cu2MoS4 with excellent redox ability to be efficiently separated spatially. This article underscores the significance of interface engineering strategies to control the disjunction of photoinduced holes and electrons.