Highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 production over a p−n Mn0.2Cd0.8S/NiCo2O4 heterojunction modified with Ni2P

Abstract

In this work, the Mn0.2Cd0.8S/NiCo2O4 composite modified with Ni2P as a co-catalyst was fabricated via a simple two-step hydrothermal method. The as-prepared ternary Mn0.2Cd0.8S/NiCo2O4/Ni2P composite displayed excellent H2 production performance. The ternary composite loaded with 5 wt% NiCo2O4 and 2 wt% Ni2P obtained the optimal H2 production performance of 24.47 mmol g−1 h−1 and a maximum AQE of 23.75%. The enhanced H2 production activity was assigned firstly to efficient spatial charge separation through the p−n Mn0.2Cd0.8S/NiCo2O4 heterojunction and secondly to sufficient surface active sites provided by Ni2P co-catalysts. This research provides a new approach to design effective ternary heterojunction.