Ni₁₂P₅-Supported Marigold-Shaped CdIn₂S₄: A 2D/3D Non-Noble-Metal Catalyst for Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Production

Abstract

The development of photocatalysts with high catalytic activity and high stability is one of the effective ways to alleviate the energy shortage. A simple hydrothermal method was used to deposit a two-dimensional (2D) non-precious-metal cocatalyst Ni12P5 on the surface of three-dimensional (3D) CdIn2S4 in situ. A 2D/3D Ni12P5/CdIn2S4 heterostructure with close contact was obtained in this work. Its hydrogen production activity can reach 5.01 mmol/g/h, which was about 18 times higher than that of pure CdIn2S4. The apparent quantum yield of 3% Ni12P5/CdIn2S4 at 400 nm was 23.5%. In addition, the band structures of Ni12P5 and CdIn2S4 were calculated according to the experimental data of UV–visible diffuse reflection, Mott–Schottky analysis, and XPS valence band spectrum characterization. With the help of XPS testing, the transfer direction of photogenerated electrons and holes in the composite catalyst was predicted, and then the possible photocatalytic mechanism was speculated.