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CuCo Partially Alloy Nanoparticles Anchored on g-C3N4 for Sacrificial Photocatalytic H2 Production and CO2 Reduction: Mechanistic Insights from X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

delete2026-06-13
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PRE
AI
V
Vishal Rout
B
Bhismadev Mahananda
P
Pratikshya Samantaray
A
Adyasha Das
P
Priyabrat Dash *
DOI:10.1021/acsanm.6c01292delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Developing multifunctional photocatalysts with engineered interfaces is essential for efficient solar-to-chemical energy conversion and CO2 mitigation. Herein, we report a nonnoble-metal photocatalyst consisting of CuCo bimetallic alloy nanoparticles anchored on citric-acid-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride (CGCN) via a surfactant-assisted coreduction strategy. The resulting CuCo/CGCN nanocomposite exhibited enhanced interfacial interaction, which is suggested to contribute to visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution and CO2 reduction under mild aqueous conditions. Structural characterization confirms the uniform dispersion of CuCo alloy nanoparticles, while optical and electrochemical studies reveal enhanced visible-light absorption and improved charge separation. The nanoscale morphology and intimate interfacial contact between the ∼38 nm CuCo alloy nanoparticles and CGCN nanosheets promote efficient charge transport and enhanced surface catalytic activity. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) indicates the presence of electronic interaction between Cu and Co species along with pronounced metal–support interactions. XANES analysis suggests a possible redistribution of electron density between Cu and Co species, while EXAFS and WT-EXAFS analyses confirm heteroatomic Cu–Co bonding and metal–ligand coordination. Benefiting from these synergistic effects, the optimized 5 wt % CuCo(3:1)/CGCN catalyst achieves a visible-light-driven sacrificial photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 4823.2 ± 189.9 μmol g–1 h–1 in the presence of methanol, outperforming both CuCo nanoparticles and pristine CGCN. In addition, efficient photocatalytic CO2 reduction is achieved, producing 902 ± 28.10 μmol g–1 of products in 10 h, primarily CH3OH (73%) and CH3CH2OH (27%). The enhanced photocatalytic performance is attributed to nanoscale alloying effects, interfacial electronic modulation, and morphology-dependent charge separation dynamics. This work highlights a scalable, nonnoble-metal photocatalytic platform for integrated hydrogen generation and CO2-to-fuel conversion.
Keywords:
Alcohols
Catalysts
Inorganic carbon compounds
Nanoparticles
Redox reactions
CuCo alloy bimetallic nanoparticle
water splitting
sacrificial H2 gas evolution
CO2 reduction
XAS
XANES
EXAFS

Journal

ACS Applied Nano Materials cover
ACS Applied Nano Materials
IF:
5.5
Papers:
2.5K
Citations:
5.0W

Organization

N
National Institute of Technology
Scholars:
1.5K
Papers: 752
Citations: 2.1K
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