NiSe₂/Mn_0.3Cd_0.7S Schottky junction catalyst for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light

Nanorod-like NiSe2/Mn0.3Cd0.7S (NiSe2/MCS) Schottky junction photocatalysts were fabricated via a two-step solvothermal approach. The NiSe2 nanoparticles were uniformly precipitated on the surface of the Mn0.3Cd0.7S (MCS) nanorods. The Schottky junctions were formed at the interface region of the MCS nanorods and the NiSe2 nanoparticles, strengthening the visible-light absorption intensity and accelerating the separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. The resulting built-in electric field prevents the photo-excited electrons from migrating back to MCS and reduces the charge carrier recombination, thus, improving the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. When the mass ratio of NiSe2 to MCS is 10 wt%, the hydrogen production rate of 10 mg NiSe2/MCS reaches up to 687 mu mol center dot h(-1) at the temperature of 15 degrees C, which is 3.3 times that of the unmodified MCS. The solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency of 10 wt% NiSe2/MCS is about 0.95%.