Monodisperse Ni-clusters anchored on carbon nitride for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

• Published in: Chinese journal of catalysis Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 536 - 545
• Main Authors: Jian, Liang, Zhang, Huizhen, Liu, Bing, Pan, Chengsi, Dong, Yuming, Wang, Guangli, Zhong, Jun, Zheng, Yongjie, Zhu, Yongfa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Carbon nitride; Interface interaction; Monodisperse Ni-clusters; Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution; Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution; Monodisperse Ni-clusters; Interface interaction; Carbon nitride
• ISSN: 1872-2067; 1872-2067
• DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(21)63865-2

The active sites of monodisperse transition metal Ni-clusters were anchored on carbon nitride (CN) by an in situ photoreduction deposition method to promote the efficient separation of photogenerated charges and achieve high-efficiency photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution. The Ni-cluster/CN exhibited a photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 16.5 mmol·h–1·g–1 and a total turnover frequency (TOF (H2)) value of 461.14 h–1. X-ray absorption spectroscopy based on synchrotron radiation indicated that CN had two reaction centers to form stable interface interactions with monodispersed Ni-clusters, in which carbon can act as an electron acceptor, while nitrogen can act as an electron donor. Meanwhile, the hybrid electronic structure of the Ni-cluster/CN system was constructed, which was favorable for photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production. An in-depth understanding of the interfacial interaction between CN and Ni-clusters will have important reference significance on the mechanistic study of development based on the cocatalyst. Monodisperse Ni-clusters were anchored on the CN surface for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. It has been proven that there is a stable interface interaction between monodisperse Ni-clusters and CN to construct the hybrid electronic structure of the Ni-cluster/CN system.