Synthesis of Ni12P5 on Co3S4 material for effectively improved photocatalytic hydrogen production from water splitting under visible light

Abstract

Building a good catalyst with high efficiency and low cost is a key step in photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this study, catalyst Ni12P5 is successfully modified on Co3S4 by two step hydrothermal methods. The catalyst Ni12P5 has a good promoting effect on the photocatalytic hydrogen production of Co3S4. Composite samples 8% Ni12P5/Co3S4 had the highest photocatalytic hydrogen production activity, and the hydrogen yield reach 4922.4 μmol g−1 h−1, which is 4.8 times higher than that of the original Co3S4 under visible light. The composite sample Ni12P5/Co3S4 maintains good stability of photocatalytic hydrogen production in three cycles. Ni12P5/Co3S4 samples are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–Vis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electrochemistry and fluorescence (PL), and their physical and chemical properties was analyzed. Electrochemical measurements show that the enhancement of photocatalytic activity is attributed to the high separation and migration of photoinduced electrons and holes, which is consistent with the photocatalytic hydrogen production activity. The results provide a novel idea for the synthesis of other non-noble metal composite photocatalyst, and have important inspiration significance.