Design and Synthesis of Cu@CuS Yolk–Shell Structures with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Non-spherical Cu@Cu S yolk–shell structures are successfully obtained using Cu_2 O cube templates in a process combining rapid surface sulfidation followed by disproportionation of the Cu_2 O core upon treatment with a hydrochloric acid solution. By employing the above method,Cu@Cu S yolk–shell structures with different morphologies,including octahedral, truncated octahedral, and cuboctahedral shapes, can be synthesized. The void space within the hollow structures provides a unique confined space, where the metallic copper present in the core of a shell can be protected from agglomeration and oxidation. Furthermore,the presence of metal copper in these hollow structurescontributes to improvement in the photocatalytic properties of these materials. The application of these Cu@Cu S structures indeed shows clearly improved photocatalytic performance.

Recent Progress on Engineering Highly Efficient Porous Semiconductor Photocatalysts Derived from Metal–Organic Frameworks

Porous structures o er highly accessible surfaces and rich pores, which facilitate the exposure of numerous active sites for photocatalytic reactions, leading to excellent performances. Recently, metal–organic frameworks(MOFs) have been considered ideal precursors for well-designed semiconductors with porous structures and/or heterostructures, which have shown enhanced photocatalytic activities. In this review, we summarize the recent development of porous structures, such as metal oxides and metal sulfides, and their heterostructures, derived from MOF-based materials as catalysts for various light-driven energy-/environment-related reactions, including water splitting, CO_2 reduction, organic redox reaction, and pollution degradation. A summary and outlook section is also included.

Fabricating a hollow cuboctahedral structure for N-doped carbon coated p-n heterojunctions towards high-performance photocatalytic organic transformation

The application of semiconductors-based photocatalysts in organic transformation has been limited by the low light utilization efficiency and the rapid recombination of photo-induced charge carriers.In this paper,we have successfully fabricated a hollow cuboctahedral nanostructure(CNNCH),which is composed of N-doped carbon layer and CuO/NiO p-n heterojunctions.The hollow structure in CNNCH can effectively favor the light utilization through the multiple light reflection and scattering.The separation of photo-induced charge carriers can be highly improved by the exitence of charge transfer pathways between the p-n heterojunctions and semiconductor/N-doped carbon layer interfaces.Due to the above advantages,hollow cuboctahedral CNNCH as the photocatalyst has behaved high performance towards the photocatalytic cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction.

Engineering Cu_(2)O/Cu/N-C interface to induce directional migration of charge for driving photocatalytic homo-coupling of terminal alkynes

The efficient utilization of visible light catalysts for organic reactions necessitates not only the effective separation of photogenerated electrons and holes to participate in the reaction,but also their ability to form key intermediates with reactant molecules.The present study successfully synthesized a crusiform-like mesoporous structure of nitrogen-doped carbon-coated Cu_(2)O/Cu(Cu_(2)O/Cu/N-C)with a Cu_(2)O/dual electron acceptor interface using etched HKUST-1 as the precursor.A series of theoretical and experimental studies have demonstrated that the Cu_(2)O/Cu/N-C interface in the photocatalytic homo-coupling of terminal alkynes not only effectively enhances the separation of photogenerated electron−hole pairs,but also facilitates the formation of the key intermediate[Cu_(2)O/Cu/N-C]-phenylacetylide and promotes the rearrangement of its internal charges.As a result,the homo-coupling reaction can be effectively facilitated.The primary reason for the functional role of Cu_(2)O/Cu/N-C interface lies in the downward bending of energy band from Cu_(2)O to N-doped C layers,induced by the different work functions of Cu_(2)O,Cu and N-doped C layers.Consequently,Cu_(2)O/Cu/N-C photocatalysts demonstrate exceptional photocatalytic activity in the homo-coupling reaction of terminal alkynes under blue-light irradiation and air atmosphere.The present study presents a novel research methodology for the development of highly efficient visible light catalysts to facilitate organic reactions in future applications.