Superior activity of the CuS–TiO2/Pt hybrid nanostructure towards visible light induced hydrogen production

Abstract

A CuS–TiO₂ hybrid nanostructure has been synthesized and employed for photocatalytic hydrogen production under UV-Vis light using Na₂S and Na₂SO₃ as the sacrificial agents. The remarkable hydrogen production recorded for the CuS–TiO₂ heterostructure was 458 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹ and for CuS–TiO₂/Pt was 746 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹. The corresponding apparent quantum yield values are 1.01% and 1.55%. The addition of Pt to the hybrid structure acts as a metallic sandwich between two semiconductors CuS and TiO₂ which assist in charge separation.