Fabricating NixCo1−xO@C Cocatalysts Sensitized by CdS Through Electrostatic Interaction for Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Evolution

Exploiting efficient and stable noble metal-free hydrogen evolution catalysts for water splitting is of great importance. In this work, NixCo1-xO@C/CdS hybrid is successfully fabricated through an electrostatic interaction of oppositely charged nanoparticles on their surfaces. The resulting NixCo1-xO@C nanoboxes cocatalysts which were derived from NiCo-LDH@ZIF-67 with NieCo layered double hydroxides (LDH) decorated with ZIF-67 precursor exhibited improved hydrogen production rate compared with bare CdS semiconductor from 0.7 mmol g(-1) h(-1) to 56 mmol g(-1) h(-1). It is demonstrated that the electrostatic interaction between the two surface charged nanoparticles of NixCo1-xO@C and CdS play an important role in migrating and separating of photogenerated charge carriers. The synthesized NixCo1-xO@C as excellent candidates for cost-effective cocatalysts is aimed to substitute for noble metals in photocatalytic H-2 evolution. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.