Porphyrin sensitized ZnWO4 nanosheets with CuO nanoparticles for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Photocatalytic hydrogen production is a promising technique for solar-to-chemical energy conversion. However, the efficiency of this method is greatly limited by the need to develop efficient photocatalysts. In this study, we rationally designed an organic–inorganic hybrid material as a photocatalyst for hydrogen production. ZnWO4 nanosheets were fabricated via a hydrothermal reaction, before decorating with CuO nanoparticles as a co-catalyst for hydrogen evolution and tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin (TCPP) as a photosensitizer. The as-fabricated ZnWO4/CuO/TCPP obtained excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (1.84 mmol g−1 h−1) under the optimized reaction conditions, which was about 4.9 times higher compared with that using the pristine ZnWO4. This significant enhancement was ascribed to the efficient charge separation by CuO and light absorption extension by porphyrin. Thus, we demonstrated a good example of efficient hydrogen production based on the rational design of photocatalysts.