Tightly Interfaced Cu2O with In2O3 to Promote Hydrogen Evolution in Presence of Biomass-Derived Alcohols

By a mild and straightforward synthetic protocol in aqueous solution and without surfactants, hierarchical Cu2O nanospheres were grownon preformed In2O3 nanostructures, varying the ratio In:Cu (2.5, 0.5). Accordingly, two different binary compounds In2O3-Cu2O were prepared and afterwards they were integrated with TiO2 NPs. The ternary composites having a loading of 2.0, 5.0 and 10.0 wt.% respectively of binary In2O3 Cu2O, were tested as photocatalysts in the solar-driven production of hydrogen from water, using as sacrificial agents alcohols derived from the biomass. Satisfyingly, therate of H2 evolution (20.5 mmol/gh) resulted two orders of magnitude higher respect to bare TiO2 (0.2mmol/g h). Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements revealed the formation of a tight heterojunction between In2O3 and Cu2O, which is responsible for the improved charge carrier density and transfer and for the diminished electron-hole recombination.