Visible-Light-Driven Efficient Hydrogen Production from CdS NanoRods Anchored with Co-catalysts Based on Transition Metal Alloy Nanosheets of NiPd, NiZn, and NiPdZn

Investigation of new catalysts to improve artificial photosynthesis efficiencies is an absolute need concerning energy demands and environmental issues. In the present study, nanosheets of NiPd, NiZn, and NiPdZn metal alloys, synthesized at the toluene–water interface, have been employed as co-catal...

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Published inACS applied energy materials Vol. 1; no. 10; pp. 5318 - 5327
Main Authors Fatahi, Parvin, Roy, Anand, Bahrami, Mehrangiz, Hoseini, S. Jafar
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published American Chemical Society 22.10.2018
Subjects
hydrogen evolution
water splitting
co-catalyst
cadmium sulfide
photocatalyst
nanosheet
transition metal alloy
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Summary:Investigation of new catalysts to improve artificial photosynthesis efficiencies is an absolute need concerning energy demands and environmental issues. In the present study, nanosheets of NiPd, NiZn, and NiPdZn metal alloys, synthesized at the toluene–water interface, have been employed as co-catalysts for hydrogen evolution from water in the presence of CdS nanorods (NRs) as a photosensitizer. Anchoring of alloy nanosheets with CdS NRs resulted in exceptional enhancement in hydrogen evolution activity. Interestingly earth abundant cost-effective CdS/NiZn photocatalyst showed higher hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity than comparatively precious photocatalyst CdS/NiPd. Trimetallic alloy nanosheets of NiPdZn further exhibited superior HER activity concerning bimetallic alloys, NiZn and NiPd. An enhancement of 21 times in the hydrogen evolution activity of CdS has been achieved by optimum loading of NiPdZn. Hydrogen yields of 21347.3 μmol h–1 g–1 (AQY = 11.35%) and 53361.3 μmol h–1 g–1 (AQY = 28%) have been obtained from CdS/NiPdZn catalyst under alkaline and acidic conditions, respectively. Noteworthy to mention is that photocatalysts based on these alloy nanosheets not only exhibit remarkable hydrogen evolution activities but also show exceptional stability in alkaline as well as in acidic medium. Spectroscopic and photoelectrochemical measurements are carried out to understand the hydrogen evolution activities.
ISSN:2574-0962
2574-0962
DOI:10.1021/acsaem.8b00900