Fabrication novel WO3@Cu core-shell nanoparticles for high-efficiency hydrogen generation under visible light by photocatalytic water splitting

Abstract In this study, WO3@Cu core-shell nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized by sol–gel route using sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate(SDBS) as dispersing agent. The fabricated WO3@Cu has been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, transmission electron microscope, and scanning electron microscope. The experimental results showed that the hydrogen production rate of WO3@Cu is up to 37.78 μmol/(h·g) under visible light irradiation. There was no considerable decline of the hydrogen production rate after continuous reaction for 120 h, indicating that the obtained catalysts exhibited excellent stability. Furthermore, the possible mechanism of photocatalytic water splitting on WO3@Cu has been proposed. Thus, WO3@Cu can be considered as an ideal material for photocatalytic water splitting in the future.