LAUSR

Abstract In this study, the 0D-Cu3P nanoparticles were successfully anchored on the surface of 2D-MoO3 nanosheets by a one-step calcination strategy for the first time, and a low-cost, excellent performance MoO3@Cu3P photocatalyst was prepared. The unique 0D/2D structure allows Cu3P and MoO3 to be in close contact to provide more active sites, and a p-n heterojunction was established at the metallurgical interface. The existence of built-in electric field in the barrier region erects a fast transfer channel for electrons, which significantly improves transfer kinetics. Additionally, SEM, TEM, UV–vis, XPS, XRD, BET, PL and TRPL were used to study the reasons for the increase in hydrogen production activity and the intrinsic properties of the photocatalyst. Finally, a feasible photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction mechanism under dye-sensitized conditions is proposed. Our work has provided motivation for using the earth's abundant transition metal phosphides to design and improve the photocatalytic activity of wide-bandgap semiconductor photocatalysts.