Mesoporous g-C3N4 decorated by Ni2P nanoparticles and CdS nanorods together for enhancing photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Ni2P nanoparticles and CdS nanorods were grew together on a mesoporous g-C3N4 through a facile in-situ solvothermal approach. Under visible light (λ > 400 nm), the as-prepared ternary PCN–CdS-5% Ni2P composite displays a high H2 evolution rate with 2905.86 μmol g−1 h−1, which is about 14, 18 and 279 times that of PCN–CdS, PCN–Ni2P and PCN, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is mainly attributed to the improved separation efficiency of the photocarriers by the type II PCN–CdS heterojunction and the effective extraction of photogenerated electrons by Ni2P. Meanwhile, Ni2P acts as co-catalyst to provide the photocatalytic active site for hydrogen reduction. In addition, PCN–CdS-5% Ni2P composite exerts good stability in 12-h cycles.