Excellent charge separation over NiCo2S4/CoTiO3 nanocomposites improved photocatalytic hydrogen production

• Published in: Frontiers of chemical science and engineering Vol. 19; no. 1
• Main Authors: Fan, Linlin, Guo, Xin, Wang, Lujun, Jin, Zhiliang, Tsubaki, Noritatsu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Higher Education Press 01.01.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bimetals; Catalytic activity; Charge efficiency; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Current carriers; Heterojunctions; Hydrogen evolution; Hydrogen production; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Nanocomposites; Nanotechnology; Photocatalysis; Research Article; Separation; Solar energy; NiCo; S; CoTiO; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; S-scheme heterojunction
• ISSN: 2095-0179; 2095-0187
• DOI: 10.1007/s11705-024-2509-y

The rapid migration and separation of photoinduced carriers is a key factor influencing photocatalytic efficiency. Constructing an S-scheme heterojunction is a strategic technique to enhance the separation of photo-generated carriers and boost overall catalytic activity. Herein, a simple physical stirring technique was adopted to successfully fabricate a novel NiCo 2 S 4 /CoTiO 3 S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst. Upon exposure to light, the NiCo 2 S 4 /CoTiO 3 -10 specimen demonstrated an outstanding hydrogen evolution rate of 2037.76 µmol·g −1 ·h −1 , exceeding twice the rate observed for the pristine NiCo 2 S 4 (833.72 µmol·g −1 ·h −1 ). The experimental outcomes reveal that the incorporation of CoTiO 3 significantly enhances the charge separation and transfer within the system. Concurrently, the formation of the S-scheme mechanism facilitates the separation of carriers while maintaining high redox capabilities. This work introduces an innovative approach to forming S-scheme heterojunctions based on bimetallic sulfides, thereby offering new prospects for the efficient utilization of solar energy.