Regulating Graphitic Carbon Nitride/Cocatalyst by an Amorphous MoS₂ Conformal Multifunctional Intermediate Layer for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

Cocatalyst engineering and interface engineering are two highly accredited strategies for improving photocatalytic activity. However, the combination of these two strategies is still challenging due to the difficulties in selecting suitable cocatalysts and consciously constructing photocatalyst/cocatalyst interfaces. The design of an intermediate layer in a photocatalyst/cocatalyst is possible for regulating the combination of these two strategies. Here, we report the synthesis of a CN/A-MoS 2 /Pt photocatalyst using amorphous MoS 2 (A-MoS 2 ) as the conformal multifunctional intermediate layer between graphitic carbon nitride (CN) and Pt by in situ photodeposition. CN/A-MoS 2 /Pt has major synthetic merits of a conformal chemically bonded interface and low overpotential for the hydrogen evolution reaction by improving interface charge transfer and photochemical reaction kinetics. Impressively, when compared to CN, it exhibits a more than 83-fold visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution rate. This work demonstrates the great potential of photocatalysts regulated by a cocatalyst and interface engineering for solar-to-fuel conversion.

Construction of novel 1D nickel phosphonate nanorod modified 2D g-C3N4 nanosheets for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance

“…61 Furthermore, the introduction of NiPPh could cause the intermediate layers to increase interfacial charge transfer ability and photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity. 62,63 NiPPh could construct a potential intermediate bridge between CN and Pt for enhancing interfacial charge transfer and photocatalytic activity, and simultaneously it also serves as a co-catalyst to improve the ability of high visible light absorption due to its narrow band gap and low overpotential for the HER.…”

Recent progress on the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction over a metal sulfide cocatalyst-mediated carbon nitride system

“…Then, the calcination method was used to prepare g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets. Finally, the two monomers were combined, stirred and evaporated at 70 °C to obtain the composite photo- 120,205 catalyst ZnCo 2 S 4 /g-C 3 N 4 . Gao et al 202 used a one-step hydrothermal method to prepare the Ni x Co 1−x S/g-C 3 N 4 composite photocatalyst.…”

“…14 (a) Proposed photochemical synthesis route of NiS/g-C 3 N 4 . (b) Schematic diagram for the preparation of the CN/A-MoS 2 /Pt photocatalysts 120,205.…”

Enhanced visible-light-driven RhB removal with a Mo–Ni bimetallic sulfide/g-C3N4 nanosheet Schottky junction

“…The Schottky junction, as a type of heterojunction, can separate charge carriers, prevent backflow of electrons, and achieve maximum charge separation. 13,14 At present, noble metals (such as Pt 15 or Ag 16 ), transition metal phosphates (TMPs) (such as MoP 17 or Ni 2 P 18 ), transition metal sulfides (TMSs) (such as NiS 2 19 or MoS 2 20 ), as co-catalysts for g-C 3 N 4 , have been extensively studied in water splitting and pollutant degradation. However, loading TMPs on semiconductors usually leads to poor dispersion of TMPs, while noble metals are expensive and scarce.…”