Hetero-phase MoC-Mo_(2)C nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic H_(2)-production activity of TiO_(2)

Hexagonal molybdenum carbide(Mo_(2)C)as an effective non-noble cocatalyst is intensively researched in the photocatalytic H_(2)-evolution field owing to its Pt-like H^(+)-adsorption ability and good conductivity.However,hexagonal Mo_(2)C-modified photocatalysts possess a limited H_(2)-evolution rate because of the weak H-desorption ability.Tofurther improve the activity,cubic MoC was introduced into Mo_(2)C toform the carbon-modified MoC-Mo_(2)C nanoparticles(MoC-Mo_(2)C@C)by a calcination method.The resultant MoC-Mo_(2)C@C(ca.5 nm)was eventually coupled with Ti0_(2)to acquire high-efficiency Ti0_(2)/MoC-Mo_(2)C@C by electrostatic self-assembly.The highest H_(2)-generation rate of Ti0_(2)/MoC-Mo_(2)C@C reached of 918μmol·h^(-1)·g^(-1)which was 91.8,2.7,and 1.5 times than that of the Ti0_(2),TiO_(2)/MoC@C,and Ti0_(2)/Mo_(2)C@C,respectively.The enhanced rate of Ti0_(2)attributes to the carbon layer as cocatalyst to transmit electrons and the hetero-phase MoC-Mo_(2)C as H_(2)-generation active sites to boost H_(2)-evolution reaction.This research offers a novel insight to design photocatalytic materials for energy applications.