Cu₃P and Ni₂P co‐modified g‐C₃N₄ nanosheet with excellent photocatalytic H₂ evolution activities

Abstract

Copper-nickel phosphides/ graphite-like phase carbon nitride (Cu 3 P-Ni 2 P/g-C 3 N 4) composites were obtained through a facile one-pot in situ solvothermal approach. The coexistence of Cu 3 P and Ni 2 P plays an important role in enhancing the catalytic activity of g-C 3 N 4. The 7 wt% Cu 3 P-Ni 2 P/g-C 3 N 4 bimetallic phosphide photocatalyst demonstrates the best photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2) evolution rate of 6529.8 ∼mol g −1 h −1 , which is 80.7-fold higher than that of g-C 3 N 4. The apparent quantum yield (AQE) was determined to be 18.5% at 400 nm over the 7% Cu 3 P-Ni 2 P/g-C 3 N 4. This in situ growth strategy produced intimate contact interfaces, leading to a significantly promoted separation of charge carriers, and hence strengthened the photocatalytic H 2 production. Moreover, the coexistence of Cu 3 P and Ni 2 P reduced the overpotential of H 2 during the evolution process, further benefiting H 2 production. Finally, the photocatalytic enhancement mechanism was proposed and verified by fluorescence and electrochemical analysis. This work provides a low-cost strategy to synthesize nonprecious bimetallic phosphides/ carbon nitride photocatalyst with outstanding H 2 production activity.

Two Birds with One Stone: Copper-Based Adsorbents Used for Photocatalytic Oxidation of Hg0 (Gas) after Removal of PH3

“…Interestingly, after dephosphorylation, the active component (CuO) of Cu 30 /TiO 2 is converted into high purity and high value-added P-type semiconductor Cu 3 P. In general, Cu 3 P is synthesized industrially by mixing P and Cu in a 1:3 ratio followed by heating in a vacuum to more than 1000 °C or via a complex hydrothermal process. , The present work, on the other hand, provides a simple strategy for synthesizing Cu 3 P under mild conditions. It is well known that Cu 3 P is a multifunctional material with a wide range of applications in photocatalysis, energy storage, medicine, etc. , Thus, the deactivated adsorbent De-Cu 30 /TiO 2 (Cu 3 P/TiO 2 ) has the potential for reuse.…”

“…Wide-survey XPS spectra demonstrated the existence of P elements on the surface of the De-Cu 30 /TiO 2 sample (Figure b). As shown in Figure c, no signal peak was detected on the P 2p photoelectron spectra of the Cu 30 /TiO 2 sample; instead, a signal peak with a BE centered at 133.5 ± 0.5 eV (P 5+ ) was observed on the P 2p photoelectron spectra of De-Cu 30 /TiO 2 , which may be attributed to the H 3 PO 4 or phosphorus oxide generated by air oxidation of Cu 3 P . The Cu 2p spectra of Cu 30 /TiO 2 and De-Cu 30 /TiO 2 are depicted in Figure S7 (Supporting Information).…”

Transition Metal Phosphide Nanoarchitectonics for Versatile Organic Catalysis

“…PtAuP H 2 PtCl 6 and HAuCl 4 NaH 2 PO 2 Co-electrodeposition Nanotubes (2017) [197] 68. [198] 69. Zn 0.5 Ge 0.5 P Zn and Ge mesh Red phosphorous Ball-milling NP (2022) [199] 70 ZnCdS-NiCoP…”

Transition‐Metal‐Based Cocatalysts for Photocatalytic Water Splitting

“…In 2008, Lee et al [269] performed improved research in which WC nanoparticles were well-dispersed on the CdS surface and exhibited a high rate of H 2 production, comparable to that of Pt/CdS. Inspired by these, various kinds of metal carbides with beneficial nanostructures especially nanoparticles are consecutively designed to be deposited on different semiconductors to obtain [260] g-C 3 N 4 Fe 2 P-Co 2 P Calcination λ > 420 nm (Xe) TEOA 347 (H 2 ) -20 (2019) [261] MMT/g-C 3 N 4 NiCoP Calcination λ ≥ 420 nm (Xe) TEOA 12500 (H 2 ) 40.3 (420 nm) 12 (2019) [262] g-C 3 N 4 NiFeP Calcination AM 1.5G (Xe) TEOA 3549 (H 2 ) 4.98 (420 nm) 9 (2019) [36] Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S N i x Co 1x P Hydrothermal λ > 400 nm (Xe) Na 2 SþNa 2 SO 3 19520 (H 2 ) 19.7(420 nm) 16 (2019) [263] g-C 3 N 4 NiCoP 2 -PC Calcination λ ≥ 420 nm TEOA 2415 (H 2 ) 5.4 (420 nm) 12 (2019) [264] g-C 3 N 4 Cu 3 P-Ni 2 P Hydrothermal (Xe) TEOA 6529.8 (H 2 ) 18.5 (400 nm) 15 (2020) [265] g-C 3 N 4 Ni 2 P/MoP Grinding λ > 420 nm (Xe) TEOA 517 (H 2 ) 5.9 (420 nm) 25 (2020) [266] CdS NiCoP Impregnation λ > 420 nm (Xe) Ethanol 218000 (H 2 ) 76.3 (420 nm) 192 (2020) [267] NiAl-LDH/ Cu 3 P NiP 2 Calcination λ > 420 nm (Xe) TEOA 6783.8 (H 2 ) -12 (2021) [268] an enhanced performance for photocatalytic H 2 production. For example, Li's group [26a] for the first time realized the deposition of Ni 3 C nanoparticles on CdS nanosheets for the application of photocatalytic H 2 evolution.…”