Photocatalyst For H2 Evolution Research Articles

Carbon Nanotubes as a Solid-State Electron Mediator for Visible-Light-Driven Z-Scheme Overall Water Splitting.

So-called Z-scheme systems, which typically comprise an H2 evolution photocatalyst (HEP), an O2 evolution photocatalyst (OEP), and an electron mediator, represent a promising approach to solar hydrogen production via photocatalytic overall water splitting (OWS). The electron mediator transferring photogenerated charges between the HEP and OEP governs the performance of such systems. However, existing electron mediators suffer from low stability, corrosiveness to the photocatalysts, and parasitic light absorption. In the present work, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were shown to function as an effective solid-state electron mediator in a Z-scheme OWS system. Based on the high stability and good charge transfer characteristics of CNTs, this system exhibited superior OWS performance compared with other systems using more common electron mediators. The as-constructed system evolved stoichiometric amounts of H2 and O2 at near-ambient pressure with a solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 0.15%. The OWS reaction was also promoted in the case that this CNT-based Z-scheme system was immobilized on a substrate. Hence, CNTs are a viable electron mediator material for large-scale Z-scheme OWS systems.

Sulfated CeO2-TiO2 as H2 evolution photocatalyst: synergic effects of heterojunction and sulfation on catalyst performance

SO42−/CeO2/TiO2 composite oxides are successfully fabricated via sol-gel method and impregnation process for photocatalytic H2 production. The characterization results from XRD, FTIR and TEM revealed that the heterojunctions were formed by the formation of Ti-O-Ce bond across the SO42−/CeO2/TiO2 interface, which was contributed significantly to separation of photo-generated carriers. Py-FTIR spectra and XPS results indicated that Lewis acid and Brønsted acid sites were formed over the surface of SO42−/CeO2/TiO2 composite, which was owing to SO42− coordinated to the metal on the sample surface. The induced Lewis acid sites could enhance the separation of photogenerated carriers, and Brønsted acid sites could provide protons for photocatalytic H2 production. In addition, the Lewis acidity could facilitate the shift of conduction band minimum to a more negative value, which improves the photocatalytic H2 production capacity of SO42−/CeO2/TiO2. The results of photocatalytic H2 production revealed that SO42−/CeO2/TiO2 composite exhibits superior photocatalytic activity compared to bare CeO2, TiO2 and CeO2-TiO2 composite. Notably, it achieves the average H2 yield rate of 6295.2 μmol·g−1 h−1 over a period of 5 h. Combine the results of spectra analysis and photocatalytic activity H2 evolution, it can be concluded that the synergetic effects of heterojunction structure of CeO2/TiO2 composite and acid impregnation promoted the photocatalyst activity.

Enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution over conjugated polymer/Au@TiO2 ternary heterojunction under visible light: Enriched photons input from polymers

Exploring efficient and stable TiO2-based photocatalysts for visible-light H2 evolution remains a great challenge. Here, a novel ternary heterojunction (THSO/Au@TiO2) was successfully synthesized by a facile in-situ polymerization strategy, which showed highly enhanced photocatalytic activity towards H2 evolution under visible light. The optimized THSO/Au@TiO2-26 exhibited an excellent photocatalytic performance to H2 evolution (7504 μmol/g/h), which was 16.31, 416.89 and 1.81 times higher than that of THSO, TiO2 and THSO/TiO2 photocatalysts, respectively. This excellent performance should be attributed to the excellent visible light absorption ability of the polymer THSO, and the local surface plasmonic resonance effect of Au nanoparticles (Au NPs), promoting separation and transfer of photo-generated charge carriers. This work presents new insights for the design of efficient and rational TiO2-based photocatalytic systems to enhance photocatalytic performance towards H2 evolution under visible light.

14.8% Quantum Efficient Gallium Phosphide Photocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution.

Gallium phosphide is an established photoelectrode material for H2 or O2 evolution from water, but particle-based GaP photocatalysts for H2 evolution are very rare. To understand the reasons, we investigated the photocatalytic H2 evolution reaction (HER) of suspended n-type GaP particles with iodide, sulfite, ferricyanide, ferrous ion, and hydrosulfide as sacrificial electron donors, and using Pt, RhyCr2-yO3, and Ni2P HER cocatalysts. A record apparent quantum efficiency of 14.8% at 525 nm was achieved after removing gallium and oxide charge trapping states from the GaP surface, adding a Ni2P cocatalyst to reduce the proton reduction overpotential, lowering the Schottky-barrier at the GaP-cocatalyst interface, adjusting the polarity of the depletion layer at the GaP-liquid interface, and optimizing the electrochemical potential of the electron donor. The work not only showcases the main factors that control charge separation in suspended photocatalysts, but it also explains why most known HER photocatalysts in the literature are based on n-type and not p-type semiconductors.

Polar Aromatic Two‐dimensional Dion‐Jacobson Halide Perovskites for Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Evolution

AbstractPolar materials with spontaneous polarization (Ps) have emerged as highly promising photocatalysts for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution owing to the Ps‐enhanced photogenerated carrier separation. However, traditional inorganic polar materials often suffer from limitations such as wide band gaps and poor carrier transport, which hinders their photocatalytic H2 evolution efficiency. Here, we rationally synthesized a series of isostructural two‐dimensional (2D) aromatic Dion–Jacobson (DJ) perovskites, namely (2‐(2‐Aminoethyl)pyridinium)PbI4 (2‐APDPI), (3‐(2‐Aminoethyl)pyridinium)PbI4 (3‐APDPI), and (4‐(2‐Aminoethyl)pyridinium)PbI4 (4‐APDPI), where 2‐APDPI and 4‐APDPI crystalize in polar space groups with piezoelectric constants (d33) of approximately 40 pm V−1 and 3‐APDPI adopts a centrosymmetric structure. Strikingly, owing to the Ps‐facilitated separation of photogenerated carriers, polar 2‐APDPI and 4‐APDPI exhibit a 3.9‐ and 2.8‐fold increase, respectively, in photocatalytic H2 evolution compared to the centrosymmetric 3‐APDPI. As a pioneering study, this work provides an efficient approach for exploring new polar photocatalysts and highlights their potential in promoting photocatalytic H2 evolution.

Polar Aromatic Two-dimensional Dion-Jacobson Halide Perovskites for Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Evolution.

Polar materials with spontaneous polarization (Ps) have emerged as highly promising photocatalysts for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution owing to the Ps-enhanced photogenerated carrier separation. However, traditional inorganic polar materials often suffer from limitations such as wide band gaps and poor carrier transport, which hinders their photocatalytic H2 evolution efficiency. Here, we rationally synthesized a series of isostructural two-dimensional (2D) aromatic Dion-Jacobson (DJ) perovskites, namely (2-(2-Aminoethyl)pyridinium)PbI4 (2-APDPI), (3-(2-Aminoethyl)pyridinium)PbI4 (3-APDPI), and (4-(2-Aminoethyl)pyridinium)PbI4 (4-APDPI), where 2-APDPI and 4-APDPI crystalize in polar space groups with piezoelectric constants (d33) of approximately 40 pm V-1 and 3-APDPI adopts a centrosymmetric structure. Strikingly, owing to the Ps-facilitated separation of photogenerated carriers, polar 2-APDPI and 4-APDPI exhibit a 3.9- and 2.8-fold increase, respectively, in photocatalytic H2 evolution compared to the centrosymmetric 3-APDPI. As a pioneering study, this work provides an efficient approach for exploring new polar photocatalysts and highlights their potential in promoting photocatalytic H2 evolution.

Metal-free carbazole-thiophene photosensitizers designed for a dye-sensitized H2-evolving photocatalyst in Z-scheme water splitting.

Dye-sensitized photocatalysts with molecular dyes and widegap semiconductors have attracted attention because of their design flexibility, for example, tunable light absorption for visible-light water splitting. Although organic dyes are promising candidates as metal-free photosensitizers in dye-sensitized photocatalysts, their efficiency in H2 production has far been unsatisfactory compared to that of metal-complex photosensitizers, such as Ru(II) tris-diimine-type complexes. Here, we demonstrate the substantial improvement of carbazole-thiophene-based dyes used for dye-sensitized photocatalysts through systematic molecular design of the number of thiophene rings, substituents in the thiophene moiety, and the anchoring group. The optimized carbazole-thiophene dye-sensitized layered niobate exhibited a quantum efficiency of 0.3% at 460nm for H2 evolution using a redox-reversible I- electron donor, which is six-times higher than that of the best coumarin-based metal-free dye reported to date. The dye-sensitized photocatalyst also facilitated overall water splitting when combined with a WO3-based O2-evolving photocatalyst and an I3-/I- redox shuttle mediator. The present metal-free dye provided a high dye-based turnover frequency for water splitting, comparable to that of the state-of-the-art Ru(II) tris-diimine-type photosensitizer, by simple adsorption onto a layered niobate. Thus, this study highlights the potential of metal-free organic dyes with appropriate molecular designs for the development of efficient water splitting.

Nickel Phosphide-Coupled Methylammonium Lead Halide as an Efficient and Stable Photocatalyst for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution from HI Splitting

Nickel Phosphide-Coupled Methylammonium Lead Halide as an Efficient and Stable Photocatalyst for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution from HI Splitting

Overcoming small-bandgap charge recombination in visible and NIR-light-driven hydrogen evolution by engineering the polymer photocatalyst structure

Designing an organic polymer photocatalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution with visible and near-infrared (NIR) light activity is still a major challenge. Unlike the common behavior of gradually increasing the charge recombination while shrinking the bandgap, we present here a series of polymer nanoparticles (Pdots) based on ITIC and BTIC units with different π-linkers between the acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) repeated moieties of the polymer. These polymers act as an efficient single polymer photocatalyst for H2 evolution under both visible and NIR light, without combining or hybridizing with other materials. Importantly, the difluorothiophene (ThF) π-linker facilitates the charge transfer between acceptors of different repeated moieties (A-D-A-(π-Linker)-A-D-A), leading to the enhancement of charge separation between D and A. As a result, the PITIC-ThF Pdots exhibit superior hydrogen evolution rates of 279 µmol/h and 20.5 µmol/h with visible (>420 nm) and NIR (>780 nm) light irradiation, respectively. Furthermore, PITIC-ThF Pdots exhibit a promising apparent quantum yield (AQY) at 700 nm (4.76%).

Au decorated chemically exfoliated g-C3N4 as highly efficient visible light catalyst for hydrogen production

The demand for photocatalytic hydrogen production through water splitting is continuously increasing as the world is seeking cleaner and sustainable energy solutions. Herein, we report a comparative study of the as-fabricated Bulk g-C3N4 (BCN), chemically exfoliated g-C3N4 (ECN) and Au-decorated chemically exfoliated g-C3N4 (Au/ECN) photocatalysts for visible light-driven catalytic hydrogen production. To understand the structural, morphological, chemical, and electronic properties of the as-fabricated photocatalysts, XRD, TEM, Raman, PL, XPS, FTIR, UV and EPR analysis was performed. The as-prepared Au/ECN photocatalyst revealed exceptional visible light catalytic performance by producing 410 μmol·g−1 of hydrogen, which is 27.3- and 9.3-fold enhanced compared to those of the CN (15 μmol·g−1) and ECN (44 μmol·g−1) photocatalysts, respectively. This improved visible light-driven catalytic performance of the Au/ECN photocatalyst for hydrogen production is due to the enhanced specific surface area via the chemically exfoliated layered sheets, promoted light absorption due to the decrease in band gap via the effect of surface plasmon resonance attributable to decorated Au nanoparticles, and efficient separation of charge carriers at the interfacial contact. The photocatalytic recyclable experiments indicate excellent stability of the Au/ECN photocatalyst for H2 evolution. These findings reveal the effect of chemical exfoliation and Au decorating on the catalytic efficiency of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts, revealing potential functions for green hydrogen production under the standard visible light illumination.

Efficient and stable visible-light-driven Z-scheme overall water splitting using an oxysulfide H2 evolution photocatalyst

So-called Z-scheme systems permit overall water splitting using narrow-bandgap photocatalysts. To boost the performance of such systems, it is necessary to enhance the intrinsic activities of the hydrogen evolution photocatalyst and oxygen evolution photocatalyst, promote electron transfer from the oxygen evolution photocatalyst to the hydrogen evolution photocatalyst, and suppress back reactions. The present work develop a high-performance oxysulfide photocatalyst, Sm2Ti2O5S2, as an hydrogen evolution photocatalyst for use in a Z-scheme overall water splitting system in combination with BiVO4 as the oxygen evolution photocatalyst and reduced graphene oxide as the solid-state electron mediator. After surface modifications of the photocatalysts to promote charge separation and redox reactions, this system is able to split water into hydrogen and oxygen for more than 100 hours with a solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 0.22%. In contrast to many existing photocatalytic systems, the water splitting activity of the present system is only minimally reduced by increasing the background pressure to 90 kPa. These results suggest characteristics suitable for applications under practical operating conditions.

Modification of an oxyhalide solid-solution photocatalyst with an efficient O2-evolving cocatalyst and electron mediator for two-step photoexcitation overall water splitting.

Two-step photoexcitation overall water splitting based on particulate photocatalysts represents a promising approach for low-cost solar hydrogen production. The performance of an O2-evolution photocatalyst and electron mediator between two photocatalysts crucially influences the construction of an efficient two-step excitation water-splitting system. Bismuth-tantalum oxyhalides are emerging photocatalysts for O2 evolution reactions and can be applied in two-step water-splitting systems. In this study, a highly crystalline Bi4TaO8Cl0.9Br0.1 solid solution with microplatelet morphology was synthesized by the dual flux method. The light absorption intensity and charge transfer efficiency of the Bi4TaO8Cl0.9Br0.1 solid solution were higher than those of Bi4TaO8Cl and Bi4TaO8Br; thus, the sacrificial O2 evolution activity of Bi4TaO8Cl0.9Br0.1 photocatalyst was obviously enhanced. The two-step excitation water splitting with a solid-state electron mediator was successfully constructed using Bi4TaO8Cl0.9Br0.1 as the O2-evolution photocatalyst and Ru/SrTiO3:Rh as the H2-evolution photocatalyst. The CoOx cocatalyst and reduced graphene oxide decorations on the surface of Bi4TaO8Cl0.9Br0.1 promoted the catalytic O2 generation process on Bi4TaO8Cl0.9Br0.1 and electron transfer between CoOx/Bi4TaO8Cl0.9Br0.1 and Ru/SrTiO3:Rh photocatalysts, respectively. As a result, the apparent quantum yield for this overall water-splitting system was 1.26% at 420 nm, which surpassed the present performance of the two-step excitation water-splitting systems consisting of metal oxyhalide photocatalysts. This study demonstrates the validity of high-quality solid-solution photocatalysts with suitable surface modification for efficient solar hydrogen production from water splitting.

One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of noble-metal-free NiS on Zn0.5Cd0.5S nanosheet photocatalysts for high H2 evolution from water under visible light.

At present, the rational design and facile synthesis of highly active and low-cost photocatalysts are still facing great challenges. Herein, a series of Zn0.5Cd0.5S/NiS (x mol%) composite photocatalysts have been synthesized via a simple and mild one-pot hydrothermal method. Compared with pure Zn0.5Cd0.5S, the NiS-loaded samples exhibit enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation performance, in which the Zn0.5Cd0.5S/NiS-5% sample has the highest H2 production rate of 10 855 ± 461 μmol h-1 g-1 with a quantum yield of 11.82% at 365 nm, which is almost 6.3 times higher than that of pristine Zn0.5Cd0.5S. The high activity of the Zn0.5Cd0.5S/NiS nanosheets may be attributed to their distinct nanostructure, including a short transfer distance of photoinduced charge carriers, a large number of unsaturated surface atoms, and a large surface area. Moreover, the added NiS nanoparticles served as an effective cocatalyst to promote photoinduced electron transfer and enhance the surface kinetics of H2 evolution. Our work provides a simple and effective route for the preparation of sulphur-based photocatalysts, which can significantly improve the efficiency of hydrogen production from water.

Proceeding of catalytic water splitting on Cu/Ce@g-C3N4 photocatalysts: an exceptional approach for sunlight-driven hydrogen generation.

Increasing energy demands and environmental problems require carbon-free and renewable energy generation systems. For this purpose, we have synthesized efficient photocatalysts (i.e., g-C3N4, Cu@g-C3N4, Ce@g-C3N4 and Cu/Ce@g-C3N4) for H2 evolution from water splitting. Their optical, structural and electrochemical properties were investigated by UV-Vis-DRS, PL, XRD, FTIR, Raman and EIS methods. Their surface morphologies were evaluated by AFM and SEM analyses. Their chemical characteristics, compositions and stability were assessed using XPS, EDX and TGA techniques. Photoreactions were performed in a quartz reactor (150 mL/Velp-UK), whereas hydrogen generation activities were monitored using a GC-TCD (Shimadzu-2014/Japan). The results depicted that Cu/Ce@g-C3N4 catalysts are the most active catalysts that deliver 23.94 mmol g-1 h-1 of H2. The higher rate of H2 evolution was attributed to the active synergism between Ce and Cu metals and the impact of surface plasmon electrons (SPEs) of Cu that were produced during the photoreaction. The rate of H2 production was optimized by controlling various factors, including the catalyst amount, light intensity, pH, and temperature of the reaction mixture. It has been concluded that the current study holds promise to replace the conventional and costly catalysts used for hydrogen generation technologies.

Recent Progress and Challenges in Perylene Small Molecules, Assemblies and Composites for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

AbstractPerylene diimide (PDI) derivatives are among the best‐known n‐type organic semiconductors because of their unique photophysical and chemical characteristics. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of various PDI/composites and their self‐assembled structures for photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution. However, the slow transport of photogenerated charge carriers, rapid charge recombination, limited catalytic activity, and instability of these materials still pose difficulties for their practical use. In order to address these problems, extensive studies have been conducted on structural modifications, molecular design, and synthesis techniques to control the morphology of self‐assembled PDI structures and create new and effective photocatalysts. In this context, perylene based small molecules, their composites with TiO2 and g‐C3N4, self‐assembled perylene derivatives have been designed and their roles as heterogenous photocatalysts for H2 evolution have been investigated thoroughly in literature. In this review, the developments of PDI‐based photocatalysts for H2 evolution are outlined under four different categories. Self‐assembled PDI nanostructures have made the most advancements among all the categories, with highest hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of 61.49 mmol g−1 h−1 while composites composed of perylene derivatives and g‐C3N4 exhibited the second highest rate of hydrogen evolution (17.7 mmol g−1 h−1). This review is intended to give researchers a better understanding and guidelines for designing PDI‐based and other chromophore‐based materials for efficient H2 evolution and their further exploration for future improvement in H2 evolution efficiencies.

Single-atom Pt decorated g-C3N5 nanorods as highly efficient photocatalyst for H2 evolution and wastewater purification

Single-atom Pt decorated g-C3N5 nanorods (Pt SA/C3N5) were synthesized that exhibit highly efficient photocatalytic performance toward H2 evolution and wastewater purification. Implanting single Pt atoms into rod-like g-C3N5 through Pt–N coordination bonds could not only optimize its band structure, but also improve its specific surface area and promote the charge transfer. Therefore, the photocatalytic H2 evolution of Pt SA/C3N5 (444.2 μmol g−1 h−1) is about 4.4 times higher than that of C3N5 (102.0 μmol g−1 h−1), and its apparent quantum efficiency can reach 0.47 % at 420 nm. Furthermore, the degradation efficiency of Pt SA/C3N5 for Rhodamine B, Methylene blue and Malachite green is about 2.5, 1.6 and 1.5 times higher than that of C3N5, respectively. Moreover, Pt SA/C3N5 exhibits excellent stability on both the H2 evolution and wastewater purification. This research provides a neoteric way to build efficient photocatalysts that can be applied to energy and environment.

Synthesis of Graphene Based Graphitic Carbon Nitride Hybrid Nanocomposite Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Generation: A Mini Review

The discovery of visible active photocatalysts for H2 evolution via water splitting is the most awaited and critical goal of many researchers in recent years. Novel polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (GCN/g-CN) has emerged as a versatile material which has attracted the scientific community and industrialist because of its distinctiveness and outstanding electronic properties. g-CN is a metal free semiconductor as well as non-toxic, biodegradable polymeric material with low band gap energy which makes it a promising candidate as a photocatalyst and its efficiency as a catalyst can be modified by forming a hybrid nanocomposite with other semiconducting materials. Reduced graphene oxide, another metal free 2D material is a very good choice for this purpose. This review is an outlook for the synthesis processes and various properties of both g-CN and graphene. Further, it gives the approaches attempted towards the modifications required and done towards the development of a metal-free nano-hybrid material which is cost-effective, eco-friendly, and highly active visible light catalyst for the water- splitting process.

Schottky junction enhanced H2 evolution for graphitic carbon nitride-NiS composite photocatalysts

As one of the most promising photocatalysts for H2 evolution, graphitic carbon nitride (CN) has many appealing attributes. However, the activity of pristine CN remains unsatisfactory due to severe charge carrier recombination and lack of active sites. In this study, we report a two-step approach for the synthesis of CN nanotubes (TCN) loaded with NiS nanoparticles. The resulting composite photocatalysts gave a H2 evolution rate of 752.9 μmol g−1 h−1, which is 42.3 times higher compared to the pristine CN photocatalyst. Experimental and simulation results showed that the Schottky junction which was formed between TCN and NiS was key to achieving high activity. This is because the formation of Schottky junction prevented the backflow of electrons from NiS to TCN, which improved charge separation efficiency. More importantly, it also led to the accumulation of electrons on NiS, which significantly weakened the SH bond, such that the intermediate hydrogen species desorbed more easily from NiS surface to promote H2 evolution activity.

Enhanced Z-scheme water splitting at atmospheric pressure with suppression of reverse reactions using Zr-doped BaTaO2N as hydrogen evolution photocatalyst

The present work demonstrates a Z-scheme overall water splitting (ZOWS) system for the photocatalytic production of H2 capable of operating under Ar at near-atmospheric pressure using a narrow-bandgap Zr-doped BaTaO2N photocatalyst. Reverse reactions are suppressed in this system as a consequence of a surface modification of the Pt-loaded, Zr-doped BaTaO2N (Pt/BaTaO2N:Zr) photocatalyst with Cr2O3. The introduction of a Cr2O3 shell was found to effectively inhibit the reduction of [Fe(CN)6]3- that otherwise competes with the H2 evolution reaction, resulting in an improved apparent quantum yield of 1.1 % at 420 nm. By combining this H2 evolution photocatalyst with an O2 evolution photocatalyst based on BiVO4, ZOWS was achieved at near-atmospheric pressure with a solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 0.08 %. This work demonstrates the importance of suppressing reverse reactions during ZOWS at atmospheric pressure and provides valuable guidance for the design and construction of practical green H2 production systems.

Synthesis of mesoporous p-CuAl2O4/n-YVO4 heterojunction nanocomposites and their utilization as effective photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution

The photocatalytic H2 evolution processes have received great attention from the scientific society using semiconductor photocatalysts, and the main bottleneck for the newly synthesized photocatalyst is the swift recombination rate of photoinduced holes and electrons. In this contribution, heterojunction p-CuAl2O4/n-YVO4 photocatalyst was synthesized through the facile sol–gel process utilizing the block copolymer templating. The photocatalytic ability and stability of the p-CuAl2O4/n-YVO4 heterojunction photocatalysts have been examined by H2 evolution in glycerol solution as a hole scavenger under visible illumination. TEM and XRD analyses indicated the formation of YVO4 (5–10 nm) with a tetragonal structure and their uniform interaction with spinel-type CuAl2O4 (5 nm). The CuAl2O4/YVO4 nanocomposites were verified for the first time to be competitive photocatalysts for H2 evolution compared with bare YVO4 NPs. At optimum conditions, the 15 % CuAl2O4/YVO4 nanocomposite revealed an enhanced H2 evolution rate (2994.6 µmolg-1h−1), about 72.5-fold that of bare YVO4 NPs (41.3 µmolg-1h−1). The heterojunction interface of p-CuAl2O4/n-YVO4 NPs was constructed according to their band structures to build S-scheme mechanism. The photoelectrochemical and PL measurements of the CuAl2O4/YVO4 photocatalysts are systematically examined to confirm our photocatalytic H2 evolution studies. It revealed that introducing CuAl2O4 on YVO4 effectively inhibited the recombination of photocarriers, thus promoting the H2 evolution rate. The work provides advantages for plausible designing p-n heterostructures and exhibits new insight to promote photocatalytic performance for potential applications.