Bismuth nanocluster loaded on N-doped porous carbon with “memory catalysis” effect for efficient photocatalytic H2 generation and uranium(VI) reduction

Photocatalytic hydrogen production and uranium reduction can solve the problems of energy crisis and environmental pollution. Here, bismuth nanocluster loaded on N-doped porous carbon (Bi 0 /NC) with “memory catalysis” effect was prepared through a Bi-MOF precursor pyrolysis strategy for H 2 generation and UO 2 2+ reduction. The photocatalyst achieved an enhanced H 2 production rate of 12.8 mmol g −1  h −1 and an improved UO 2 2+ removal ratio of 95.9 %, which was 3.2 and 1.8 times as pristine carbon material, respectively. Moreover, both the H 2 generation and UO 2 2+ reduction showed a sustained activity under dark condition. Improved activity is ascribed to the optimized electronic property and the enhanced charge separation in Bi 0 /NC, which can be proved by the DFT calculation of projected density of state, Fermi level and charge density difference. This work provides a new strategy to realize the continuous H 2 generation and U(VI) reduction in day and night.