Ni<sub>12</sub>P<sub>5</sub>-Supported Marigold-Shaped CdIn<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub>: A 2D/3D Non-Noble-Metal Catalyst for Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Production
Wenwen Yang, Shanshan Xu, Yawen Niu, Yanhui Zhang, Juan Xu
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 Ni 12 P 5 on the surface of three-dimensional (3D) CdIn 2 S 4 in situ. A 2D/3D Ni 12 P 5 /CdIn 2 S 4 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 CdIn 2 S 4 . The apparent quantum yield of 3% Ni 12 P 5 /CdIn 2 S 4 at 400 nm was 23.5%. In addition, the band structures of Ni 12 P 5 and CdIn 2 S 4 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.