Snowflakes-Shaped Cu2S/Cd0.5Mn0.5S S-scheme heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production and reduction of U(VI)

In this study, snowflake-like Cu₂S was synthesized first. Subsequently, Cd₀.₅Mn₀.₅S (CMS) nanoparticles were evenly grown on the surface of the snowflake-like Cu₂S, leading to the successful preparation of Cu₂S/Cd₀.₅Mn₀.₅S (Cu₂S/CMS) snowflake-like composites for the first time. When compared with pristine CMS, the optimal 1-Cu₂S/CMS composite demonstrated an outstanding H₂ evolution rate of 3419.3 μmolg^–1h^–1, and it was 3.85 times the value of that of bare CMS. Moreover, in the application of U(VI) reduction, the 1-Cu₂S/CMS composite achieved a remarkable degradation rate of 93.9 % for U(VI), significantly surpassing that of pure CMS (63.6 %). Notably, it also exhibited excellent long-term stability. The superior photocatalytic performance of the Cu₂S/CMS composites is mainly due to the development of an S-scheme heterojunction between CMS and Cu₂S, along with the unique snowflake-like morphology. These features enabled efficient charge transfer pathways and enhanced the solar energy capture efficiency of the composites. The developed catalyst successfully achieved the dual-functional application of photocatalytic H₂ production and U(VI) reduction. In this regard, this investigation presents crucial understandings and functions as a remarkable benchmark for the creation of high-efficiency composite photocatalysts.