Nickel phosphide cocatalyst and carbon defects simultaneously boosting the photocatalytic hydrogen production over carbon nitride

• Published in: Journal of environmental chemical engineering Vol. 12; no. 2; p. 112271
• Main Authors: Mao, ChuChang, Qu, Qinghua, Li, Fada, Fang, Cheng, Li, Hongping, Ding, Jing, Wan, Hui, Zhang, Ping, Guan, Guofeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Carbon defects; Carbon Nitride; Nickel phosphide; Photocatalytic hydrogen production; Synergistic effects; Synergistic effects; Carbon defects; Photocatalytic hydrogen production; Carbon Nitride; Nickel phosphide
• ISSN: 2213-3437; 2213-3437
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2024.112271

The suppression of photogenerated carrier recombination in carbon nitride and the consequent enhancement of its photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance have emerged as a research hotspot in the field of photocatalysis. Herein, Nickel phosphide (Ni2P) was anchored onto carbon nitride with carbon defects through a synthesis involving thermal polymerization and photoreduction. The existence of carbon defects derived from the rupture of carbon nitride (CN) heterocycles were beneficial to strengthening optical absorption and the separation capabilities of photogenerated carriers. Furthermore, Ni2P cocatalysts could serve as electron acceptors that effectively accelerate the transfer and transport capabilities of the photogenerated charge carriers. Consequently, the 7 wt% Ni2P/CNN photocatalyst achieved a maximum hydrogen evolution rate of 2062 μmol·g−1·h−1, which was 7.8 times and 6.2 times greater than that of Ni2P/CN and Ni/CNN, respectively, and was comparable to the rate achieved by 3 wt% Pt/CNN. This result was comparable or even better than those reported previously. Our work provided a simply strategy for developing non-precious metal-based nickel phosphide photocatalysts for renewable solar-driven photocatalytic hydrogen production. [Display omitted] •Ni2P/CNN photocatalyst was prepared by hydrothermal and thermal polymerization combined with photoreduction method.•The synergistic effects of carbon defect of carbon nitride and Ni2P boost the photocatalytic hydrogen production.•Ni2P cocatalyst served as electron acceptors to accelerate the separation capabilities of photogenerated charge carriers.•The introduction of carbon defects enhanced optical absorption and acceleration separation rate of photogenerated carriers.