Decoration of nicale phosphide nanoparticles on CdS nanorods for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Manipulation of the co-catalyst plays an important role in charge separation and reactant activation to enhance the activity of CdS based photocatalysts. Transition-metal phosphides have aroused widespread interest in catalysis owing to their special structure and catalytic behavior. Herein, Ni2P as a cocatalyst coupled with CdS for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with a rate of 483.25 mmol g−1.h−1, which was nearly 525 and 1.92 times higher than that of CdS (0.92 mmol g−1.h−1) and 1 wt% noble metal Pt modified CdS (251.29 mmol g−1.h−1), respectively. Its apparent quantum yield reaches 70% at 420 nm. Based on data analysis, Schottky heterostructure was constructed by combining Ni2P with CdS. The Schottky junction provides a convenient way for photoinduced electrons to transfer and promotes the effective separation of photoinduced carriers.