Simple preparation of amorphous nickel boride/Mn0.5Cd0.5S composite and its high-efficient photocatalytic performance for hydrogen production

Abstract

In this paper, amorphous NiB-modified Mn0.5Cd0.5S (NBMCS) was facilely prepared by a simple stirred method. The results showed that NBMCS possesses better light absorption ability, better separation capability of photogenerated carriers, lower overpotential and stronger reduction capacity. When NBMCS was applied for splitting water to H2, it was found that the hydrogen precipitation rate was 195 times higher than bare Mn0.5Cd0.5S and 4.6 times higher than 1 % Pt/ Mn0.5Cd0.5S, and it showed good stability. Therefore, an inexpensive and effective cocatalyst replaced Pt was shown, which might be diffusely used in the solar energy conversion field.