Copper/ cerium metal organic frame work as highly efficient structures for solar power-induced hydrogen generation through the process of water splitting

• Three metal–organic frameworks of Copper and Cerium prepared via solvothermal method. • Copper and Cerium frameworks gave 289 and 375 mmol/hour.gram of hydrogen, respectively. • Copper-doped Cerium framework yielded 465 mlmol/hour.gram of hydrogen. • This structure showed the most effective charge separation during photo-activity. • Copper-doped Cerium framework maintained stable hydrogen output over ten reuse cycles. Increased dependence on fossil fuels as energy sources strongly contributes in both global warming and environmental pollution, leading to serious impacts on human-beings and societies. Therefore, shift from hydrocarbon-based energy to alternative green, sustainable and renewable sources of energy has been globally stimulated in past decades. In an agreement with this context, hydrogen is counted as one of these sources which has been paid strong attention recently due to its high energy content and no harmful emissions. Consequently, this study introduces production of clean green hydrogen through the process of photocatalytic water splitting which is a cost-effective route and releases zero emissions. A series of copper/ or cerium based metal–organic frameworks were successfully prepared via one-pot solvothermal technique and were presented as three novel photocatalysts for hydrogen production from water. The photocatalytic performances of these structures were investigated under visible light irradiation, revealing the highest activity for copper doped cerium metal–organic framework. It exhibited a maximum pure hydrogen productivity of 465 mmol per hour/ gram which was much higher than those the detected productivity by copper and cerium metal–organic frameworks (289 and 375 mmol per hour/ gram respectively). Heterojunction between the two central metals as well as effective charge separation in copper doped cerium metal–organic framework are reasons of its superiority in hydrogen evolution exploit, compared to the other two structures. The recyclability of copper doped cerium metal–organic framework demonstrated high reliability since it showed nearly stable yields of hydrogen over ten cycles of photocatalytic reuse. Therefore, the presented binary metals organic framework establishes new platform for photocatalysts in process of hydrogen production through water splitting.