Abstract
Efficient hole-electron pair separation plays a crucial role in enhancing photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4, which usually requires a noble metal cocatalyst. Here we report metallic NiCo2S4 nanoparticles as a cocatalyst and replacement of noble metals to improve the performance of g-C3N4 for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. NiCo2S4 nanoparticle-modified g-C3N4 has been successfully synthesized. Experimental results indicate that the loading of NiCo2S4 boosts the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of g-C3N4. The photocatalytic HER of the NiCo2S4/g-C3N4 was investigated using triethanolamine as a sacrificial agent. The 5%-NiCo2S4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite displayed the optimal H2 production rate of 244.7 μmol h−1 g−1, which is about 153 times higher than that of pure g-C3N4. The intimate interface contact between NiCo2S4 and g-C3N4 favors charge separation and is likely responsible for the enhanced photocatalytic activity. This work provides the evidence that NiCo2S4 is a potential cocatalyst for boosting the HER activity of NiCo2S4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite.
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Funding
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51402126) and the Science and Technology Program of Zhejiang Province (No. 2018C37077). We also appreciate the Key SRT funded projects of Jiaxing University.
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Li, C., Liang, Y., Lu, Z. et al. NiCo2S4 decorated g-C3N4 nanosheets for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. J Nanopart Res 22, 41 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-020-4753-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-020-4753-5