Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over protonated g-C₃N₄ using NiCoP as a cocatalyst

Bimetallic phosphides as the cocatalysts have been demonstrated promising potential for boosting photocatalytic water splitting to produce hydrogen. Herein, a nickle-cobalt bimetallic phosphide (NiCoP) cocatalyst with flower-like structure built with nanoflakes in different directions is synthesized and self-assembled with pro-tonated g-C3N4 (HCN) nanosheets through electrostatic interaction. The resultant NiCoP/HCN is employed for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. Benefiting from the excellent metallic conductivity and unique flower-like structure of NiCoP that offers abundant active sites, the NiCoP/HCN exhibits highly efficient sepa-ration of the photo-generated charges and greatly improved hydrogen evolution activity. The H-2 evolution rate of the optimized NiCoP/HCN can reach 7951 mu mol g(-1) h(-1), much higher than that of HCN nanosheets. The great potential of NiCoP for improving photocatalytic H-2 evolution of g-C3N4 lights a valuable direction for exploring low cost and highly efficient non-noble metal cocatalysts for enhanced photocatalytic H-2 evolution.