Internal electric field modulation by copper vacancy concentration of cuprous sulfide nanosheets for enhanced selective CO_(2) photoreduction

Although the internal electric field(IEF)of photocatalysts is acknowledged as a potent driving force for photocharge separation,modulating the IEF intensity to achieve enhanced photocatalytic performances remains a challenge.Herein,cuprous sulfide nanosheets with different Cu vacancy concentration were employed to study IEF modulation and corresponding direct charge transfer.Among the samples,Cu_(1.8)S nanosheets possessed intensified IEF intensity compared with those of Cu_(2)S and Cu_(1.95)S nanosheets,suggesting that an enhanced IEF intensity could be achieved by introducing more Cu vacancies.This intensified IEF of Cu_(1.8)S nanosheets induced numerous photogenerated electrons to migrate to its surface,and the dissociative electrons were then captured by Cu vacancies,resulting in efficient charge separation spatially.In addition,the Cu vacancies on Cu_(1.8)S nanosheets accumulated electrons as active sites to lower the energy barrier of rate-determining step of CO_(2)photoreduction,leading to the selective conversion of CO_(2)to CO.Herein,the manipulation of IEF intensity through Cu vacancy concentration regulation of cuprous sulfide photocatalysts for efficient charge separation has been discussed,providing a scientific strategy to rationally improve photocata lytic performances for solar energy conversion.