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The CuO@CuFe2O4 core–shell structure represents a new family of photocatalysts that can be used as photoelectrodes that are able to produce hydrogen under a broad spectrum of visible light. Herein, we report a novel approach for the production of this active film by the thermal conversion of CuFe Prussian Blue Analogues. The outstanding photoelectrochemical properties of the photocathodes of CuO@CuFe2O4 were studied with the use of combinatory photo-electrochemical instrumental techniques which proved that the electrodes were stable over the whole water photolysis run under relatively positive potentials. Their outstanding performance was explained by the coupling of two charge transfer mechanisms occurring in core–shell architectures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnFe 2 O 4 is an n-type semiconductor spinel oxide with promising applications in various fields, including photocatalysis. This study reports the successful synthesis of a novel ZnFe 2 O 4 derivative based on Prussian Blue Analogues (PBAs) through an electrosynthesis method. To enhance photocatalytic performance, the synthesized ZnFe 2 O 4 was employed as a cocatalyst in p-n junction materials, specifically CuO/ZnFe 2 O 4 . Our findings reveal that introducing ZnFe 2 O 4 could significantly improve the photocatalytic activity and hydrogen (H 2 ) production rate of the CuO/ZnFe 2 O 4 system compared to bare CuO. This enhancement was sustained over an extended operational period, indicating the material's potential for long-term use in photocatalytic applications. The superior performance of the ZnFe 2 O 4 cocatalyst is attributed to its efficient charge separation and improved light absorption properties, which collectively contribute to higher photocatalytic efficiency. This study highlights the potential of PBA-based derivative ZnFe 2 O 4 as an effective cocatalyst in developing advanced photocatalytic systems for sustainable hydrogen production., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)