The discovery of light-harvesting materials for use in photocatalytic organic reactions has recently attracted attention, indicating the potential for utilizing renewable energy sources. A hybrid semiconductor (SC)-SC structure, Cu9S5-MnWO4, was synthesized using a simple, efficient method. The novel hierarchical porous Cu9S5-MnWO4 hybrid structures were then applied in the photocatalysis of oxidative homocoupling of alkynes and amines. The design of a heterogeneous catalyst based on a porous, SC-SC hybrid structure and low-cost Cu should generate interest in the fabrication and modification of photocatalysts for a wide range of applications.
Keywords: copper sulfide; hybrid; oxidative coupling; photocatalyst; porous; ternary tungstate.