Novel Cu2S quantum dots coupled flower-like BiOBr for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light

Cu2S quantum dots (QDs) coupled three-dimensional (3D) flower-like hierarchical BiOBr (QDs-Cu2S/BiOBr) were prepared via a simple precipitation method. The Cu2S QDs, with an average diameters of 10 nm, were uniformly attached on the surface of BiOBr with an intimate contact interface as evidenced by characterization of the structure and composition of the composite. The QDs-Cu2S/BiOBr composite exhibited enhanced water splitting for hydrogen evolution, and 717 mu mol g(-1) of H-2 was produced with 3 wt% QDs-Cu2S/BiOBr containing 1 wt% Pt, which was 3.1 times higher than that of Cu2S nanoparticles. The enhancement of hydrogen evolution was attributed to the synergic effect between BiOBr and Cu2S QDs, where the hybridization could effectively accelerate the separation of the photogenerated charge carriers.