Fabrication of a Co(OH)/ZnCr LDH "p-n" Heterojunction Photocatalyst with Enhanced Separation of Charge Carriers for Efficient Visible-Light-Driven H and O Evolution.

Photocatalytic generation of H and O by water splitting remains a great challenge for clean and sustainable energy. Taking into the consideration promising heterojunction photocatalysts, analogous energy issues have been mitigated to a meaningful extent. Herein, we have architectured a highly efficient bifunctional heterojunction material, i.e., p-type Co(OH) platelets with an n-type ZnCr layered double hydroxide (LDH) by an ultrasonication method. Primarily, the Mott-Schottky measurements confirmed the n- and p-type semiconductive properties of LDH and CH material, respectively, with the construction of a p-n heterojunction. The high resolution transmission electron microscopy results suggest that surface modification of ZnCr LDH by Co(OH) hexagonal platelets could form a fabulous p-n interfacial region that significantly decreases the energy barrier for O and H production by effectively separating and transporting photoinduced charge carriers, leading to enhanced photoreactivity. A deep investigation into the mechanism shows that a 30 wt % Co(OH)-modified ZnCr LDH sample liberates maximum H and O production in 2 h, i.e., 1115 and 560 μmol, with apparent conversion efficiencies of H and O evolution of 13.12% and 6.25%, respectively. Remarkable photocatalytic activity with energetic charge pair transfer capability was illustrated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, linear sweep voltammetry, and photoluminescence spectra. The present study clearly suggests that low-cost Co(OH) platelets are the most crucial semiconductors to provide a new p-n heterojunction photocatalyst for photocatalytic H and O production on the platform of ZnCr LDH.