Integration of earth-abundant cocatalysts for high-performance photoelectrochemical energy conversion

Photoelectrochemical(PEC)energy conversion has emerged as a promising and efficient approach to sustainable energy harvesting and storage.By utilizing semiconductor photoelectrodes,PEC devices can harness solar energy and drive electrochemical reactions such as water splitting or carbon dioxide(CO_(2))reduction to generate clean fuels and value-added chemicals.However,PEC energy conversion faces several challenges such as high overpotential,sluggish reaction kinetics,charge carrier recombination,and stability issues,which limit its practical implementation.Recently,significant research has been conducted to improve the overall conversion efficiency of PEC devices.One particularly promising approach is the use of cocatalysts,which involves introducing specific cocatalysts onto the photoelectrode surface to promote charge separation,improve reaction kinetics,and reduce the overpotential,thereby enhancing the overall performance of PEC energy conversion.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments in the earth-abundant cocatalysts for PEC water splitting and CO_(2) reduction.The main earth-abundant catalysts for the PEC water splitting include transition-metal dichalcogenide(TMD)-based materials,metal phosphides/carbides,and metal oxides/hydroxides.Meanwhile,PEC-CO_(2)RR was divided into C_(1) and C_(2+)based on the final product since various products could be produced,focusing on diverse earth-abundant materials-based cocatalysts.In addition,we provide and highlight key advancements achieved in the very recent reports on novel PEC system design engineering with cocatalysts.Finally,the current problems associated with PEC systems are discussed along with a suggested direction to overcome these obstacles.

Selectivity control of photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction over ZnS-based nanocrystals:A comparison study on the role of ionic cocatalysts

Taking copper doped ZnS(ZnS:Cu)nanocrystals as the main body of photocatalyst,the influence of different base transition metal ions(M^(2+)=Ni^(2+),Co^(2+),Fe^(2+)and Cd^(2+))on photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction in inorganic reaction system is investigated.Confined single-atom Ni^(2+),Co^(2+),and Cd^(2+)sites were created via cation-exchange process and enhanced CO_(2)reduction,while Fe^(2+)suppressed the photocatalytic activity for both water and CO_(2)reduction.The modified ZnS:Cu photocatalysts(M/ZnS:Cu)demonstrated tunable product selectivity,with Ni^(2+)and Co^(2+)showing high selectivity for syngas production and Cd^(2+)displaying remarkable formate selectivity.DFT calculations indicated favorable H adsorption free energy on Ni^(2+)and Co^(2+)sites,promoting the hydrogen evolution reaction.The selectivity of CO_(2)reduction products was found to be sensitive to the initial intermediate adsorption states.*COOH formed on Ni^(2+)and Co^(2+)while*OCHO formed on Cd^(2+),favoring the production of CO and HCOOH as the main products,respectively.This work provides valuable insights for developing efficient solar-to-fuel platforms with controlled CO_(2)reduction selectivity.

Synergistic impact of cocatalysts and hole scavenger for promoted photocatalytic H2 evolution in mesoporous TiO2–NiSx hybrid

Photocatalytic solar energy conversion to hydrogen is sustainable and attractive for addressing the global energy and environmental issue. Herein, a novel photocatalytic system (NiS/Ni3S4 cocatalysts modified mesoporous TiO2) with superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution capability through the synergistic impact of NiS/Ni3S4 (NiSx) cocatalyst and efficient hole scavenger has been demonstrated. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of TiO2-NiSx hybrids with the different content of NiSx and upon different organic hole scavengers was both investigated. The hybrid of TiO2 decorated with 3%(mole ratio of Ni^2+) NiSx cocatalyst in methanol solution showed the optimal photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 981.59 μmol h^-1 g^-1 which was about 20 times higher than that of bare mesoporous TiO2. Our results suggested that the boosted hydrogen production performance is attributed to both the improved photoinduced electrons migration between NiS and Ni3S4 in cocatalyst and the high hole captured efficiency by hole scavengers of methanol.

Cobalt-Based Cocatalysts for Photocatalytic CO_(2)Reduction

Conversion of carbon dioxide(CO_(2))into valuable chemicals and renewable fuels via photocatalysis represents an eco-friendly route to achieve the goal of carbon neutralization.Although various types of semiconductor materials have been intensively explored,some severe issues,such as rapid charge recombination and sluggish redox reaction kinetics,remain.In this regard,cocatalyst modifi cation by trapping charges and boosting surface reactions is one of the most effi cient strategies to improve the effi ciency of semiconductor photocatalysts.This review focuses on recent advances in CO_(2)photoreduction over costeff ective and earth-abundant cobalt(Co)-based cocatalysts,which are competitive candidates of noble metals for practical applications.First,the functions of Co-based cocatalysts for promoting photocatalytic CO_(2)reduction are briefl y discussed.Then,diff erent kinds of Co-based cocatalysts,including cobalt oxides and hydroxides,cobalt nitrides and phosphides,cobalt sulfi des and selenides,Co single-atom,and Co-based metal–organic frameworks(MOFs),are summarized.The underlying mechanisms of these Co-based cocatalysts for facilitating CO_(2)adsorption–activation,boosting charge separation,and modulating intermediate formation are discussed in detail based on experimental characterizations and density functional theory calculations.In addition,the suppression of the competing hydrogen evolution reaction using Co-based cocatalysts to promote the product selectivity of CO_(2)reduction is highlighted in some selected examples.Finally,the challenges and future perspectives on constructing more effi cient Co-based cocatalysts for practical applications are proposed.

Cocatalysts in photocatalytic methane conversion: recent achievements and prospects

Photocatalysis, which performed under mild conditions by utilizing solar energy, has become a desirable technology to convert methane into highly valuable chemicals, such as methanol, ethane, and other hydrocarbons. However, pristine photocatalysts still suffer from the low utilization efficiency of solar light and the high recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers, which exhibit the low activity and selectivity for photocatalytic methane conversion. Loading cocatalysts on photocatalysts is an attractive strategy to manipulate the products' yield and selectivity of photocatalytic methane conversion due to the enhanced charge carrier separation efficiency, extended light absorption and promoted reactant adsorption/desorption kinetics. This review discusses the recent achievements of the cocatalysts for photocatalytic methane conversion reactions. Moreover, the challenges and perspectives for the development of efficient cocatalysts are presented. This review provides considerable guidelines for the design and construction of efficient cocatalysts for photocatalytic methane conversion reactions.

A review on 2D MoS_(2) cocatalysts in photocatalytic H_(2) production

Owing to their unique physicochemical,optical and electrical properties,two-dimensional(2D)MoS_(2) cocatalysts have been widely applied in designing and developing highly efficient composite photocatalysts for hydrogen generation under suitable light irradiation.In this review,we first elaborated on the fundamental aspects of 2D MoS_(2) cocatalysts to include the structural design principles,synthesis strategies,strengths and challenges.Subsequently,we thoroughly highlighted and discussed the modification strategies of 2D MoS_(2) H2-evolution cocatalysts,including doping heteroatoms(e.g.metals,non-metals,and co-doping),designing interfacial coupling morphologies,controlling the physical properties(e.g.thickness,size,structural defects or pores),exposing the reactive facets or edge sites,constructing cocatalyst heterojunctions,engineering the interfacial bonds and confinement effects.In the future,the forefront challenges in understanding and in precise controlling of the active sites at molecular level or atomic level should be carefully studied,while various potential mechanisms of photogenerated-electrons interactions should be proposed.The applications of MoS_(2) cocatalyst in the overall water splitting are also expected.This review may offer new inspiration for designing and constructing novel and efficient MoS_(2)-based composite photocatalysts for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Photodeposition of CoOx and MoS2 on CdS as dual cocatalysts for photocatalytic H2 production

Photocatalytic Hproduction from water splitting has a promising prospect for alleviating energy and environmental issues.However,the fast recombination of photogenerated charge carriers limits the photocatalytic efficiency and its practical application.Cocatalyst engineering is an effective strategy to spatially separate photogenerated charge carriers.In this work,noble-metal-free MoSand CoOcocatalysts are loaded on CdS nanorods by a two-step photodeposition method.The MoSfunctions as the reduction cocatalyst to trap electrons and Co Oas the oxidation cocatalyst to trap holes.Transmission electron microscopy(TEM),inductively coupled plasma(ICP),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)and MottSchottky results demonstrate the effectiveness of photodeposition for loading MoSand CoOdual cocatalysts on CdS and their impact on the photochemical properties.The optimized CdS-MoS-CoOcomposite exhibits a high photocatalytic H-production rate of 7.4 mmol g^(-1)h^(-1)and an apparent quantum efficiency(QE)of 7.6%at 420 nm.Further analysis on time-resolved photoluminescence(TRPL)indicates that the introduction of dual cocatalysts greatly prolongs the lifetime of photogenerated charge carriers and deceases the charge recombination rates,consequently leading to superior photocatalytic H-production performance.This work provides a facile and effective strategy for the construction of highly efficient dual-cocatalyst-modified CdS photocatalyst for high-performance photocatalytic Hproduction.

Highly selective photocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) to CH_(4) on electron-rich Fe species cocatalyst under visible light irradiation

Efficient photocatalytic reduction of CO_(2) to high-calorific-value CH4,an ideal target product,is a blueprint for C_(1)industry relevance and carbon neutrality,but it also faces great challenges.Herein,we demonstrate unprecedented hybrid SiC photocatalysts modified by Fe-based cocatalyst,which are prepared via a facile impregnation-reduction method,featuring an optimized local electronic structure.It exhibits a superior photocatalytic carbon-based products yield of 30.0μmol g^(−1) h^(−1) and achieves a record CH_(4) selectivity of up to 94.3%,which highlights the effectiveness of electron-rich Fe cocatalyst for boosting photocatalytic performance and selectivity.Specifically,the synergistic effects of directional migration of photogenerated electrons and strongπ-back bonding on low-valence Fe effectively strengthen the adsorption and activation of reactants and intermediates in the CO_(2)→CH_(4) pathway.This study inspires an effective strategy for enhancing the multielectron reduction capacity of semiconductor photocatalysts with low-cost Fe instead of noble metals as cocatalysts.

Ternary non-noble metal zinc-nickel-cobalt carbonate hydroxide cocatalysts toward highly efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

TiO2 photoanodes have aroused intensive research interest in photoelectrochemical （PEC） water splitting. However, they still suffer from poor electron-hole separation and sluggish oxygen evolution dynamics, leading to the low photoconversion efficiency and limiting commercial application. Here, we designed and fabricated novel ternary non-noble metal carbonate hydroxide （ZNC-CH） nanosheet cocatalysts and integrated them with TiO2 nanorod arrays as highly efficient photoanodes of PEC cells. Compared with the pristine TiO2, the photocurrent of photoanode with the optimal amount of ZNC-CH represents 3.2 times enhancement, and the onset potential is shifted toward the negative potential direction of 62 mV, The remarkable enhancement is attributed to the suppressed carrier recombination and enhanced charge transfer efficiency at the interface of TiO2, ZNC-CH and electrolyte, which is closely related to the zinc elements modulated intrinsic activity of catalysts. Our results demonstrate that the introduction of multimetallic ZNC-CH cocatalysts onto photoanodes is a promising strategy to improve the PEC efficiency.

Hydriding Pd cocatalysts： An approach to giant enhancement on photocatalytic CO2 reduction into CH4

Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into high value-added CH4 is a promising solution for energy and environmental crises. Integrating semiconductors with cocatalysts can improve the activities for photocatalytic CO2 reduction; however, most metal cocatalysts mainly produce CO and H2. Herein, we report a cocatalyst hydridation approach for significantly enhancing the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into CH4. Hydriding Pd cocatalysts into PdH0.43 played a dual role in performance enhancement. As revealed by our isotopic labeling experiments, the PdH0.43 hydride cocatalysts reduced H2 evolution, which suppressed the H2 production and facilitated the conversion of the CO intermediate into the final product： CH4. Meanwhile, hydridation promoted the electron trapping on the cocatalysts, improving the charge separation. This approach increased the photocatalytic selectivity in CH4 production from 3.2% to 63.6% on Pd{100} and from 15.6% to 73.4% on Pd{111}. The results provide insights into photocatalytic mechanism studies and introduce new opportunities for designing materials towards photocatalytic CO2 conversion.

The incorporation of cocatalyst cobalt sulfide into graphitic carbon nitride:Boosted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance and mechanism exploration

2D-layered graphitic carbon nitride(g-C_(3)N_(4))is regarded as a great prospect as a photocatalyst for H_(2)generation.However,g-C_(3)N_(4)’s photocatalytic hydrogen evolution(HER)activity is significantly restricted by the recombination of photocarriers.We find that cobalt sulfide(CoS_(2))as a cocatalyst can promote g-C_(3)N_(4)nanosheets(NSs)to realize very efficient photocatalytic H_(2)generation.The prepared CoS_(2)/g-C_(3)N_(4)hybrids display highly boosted photocatalytic H_(2)generation performance and outstanding cycle stability.The optimized 7%-CoS_(2)/g-C_(3)N_(4)hybrids show a much improved photocatalytic H_(2)generation rate of 36.2μmol-1h-1,which is about 180 times as much as bare g-C_(3)N_(4)(0.2μmol-1h-1).In addition,the apparent quantum efficiency(AQE)of all the samples was computed under light atλ=370 nm,in which the AQE of 7%-CoS_(2)/g-C_(3)N_(4)hybrids is up to 5.72%.The experimental data and the DFT calculation suggest that the CoS_(2)/g-C_(3)N_(4)hybrid’s excellent HER activity is attributable to the lower overpotential and the smaller Co-H bond activation energy for HER.Accordingly,the CoS_(2)cocatalyst loading effectively boosts the photocatalytic performance of g-C_(3)N_(4)for H_(2)evolution.The project promotes fast development of high-efficiency photocatalysts and low-cost for photocatalytic H_(2)generation.

Advances and challenges in developing cocatalysts for photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide to fuels

The global adoption of efficient sustainable energy sources is a crucial step toward meeting energy demands while achieving carbon emission reduction targets.Solar energy has become a clean and cost-competitive alternative to traditional fossil fuels,but the intermittent nature of sunlight results in challenges associated with energy storage and transport.Photocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction intends to mimic natural photosynthesis for utilizing sunlight to chemically convert water and CO_(2) into fuels.In this process,the solar energy is captured and stored in fuels,so-called solar fuels,for widespread on-demand use.Heterogeneous solar fuel production systems are multi-component,comprising light-harvesting(photosensitizer)and catalytic(cocatalyst)units.Cocatalysts are indispensable for photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction systems,which promote charge carrier separation and transport,reduce the reaction activation energy,and alter the reaction route,thereby enhancing the activity and selectivity of the photocatalytic reactions.This review presents a comprehensive summary of the recent advancements in cocatalysts for photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction reaction(CO_(2)RR),with the purpose of providing new insights and guidance to the field with regard to research directions and best practices.We summarize how various cocatalysts including inorganic nanoparticles,metal complexes,enzymes,and bacteria can be combined with semiconductor photosensitizer for light-driven photocatalytic CO_(2)RR.Side-by-side comparisons reveal the strengths and limitations of each kind of cocatalysts and how lessons extracted from studying natural photosynthetic systems can be applied to investigations of artificial photosynthesis,presenting an outlook discussing possible future concepts for a more effective photocatalytic CO_(2) reduction process.

Room-temperature photodeposition of conformal transition metal based cocatalysts on BiVO4 for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting

Photoelectrochemical(PEC)water splitting using semiconductors offers a promising way to convert renewable solar energy to clean hydrogen fuels.However,due to the sluggish reaction kinetics of water oxidation,significant charge recombination occurred at the photoanode/electrolyte interface and cause decrease of its PEC performance.To reduce the surface recombination,we deposit different transition metal complexes on BiVO4 nanocone arrays by a versatile light driven in-situ two electrode photodeposition approach without applied bias.Conformal cobalt phosphate“Co-Pi”,nickel borate“Ni-Bi”and manganese phosphate“Mn-Pi”complexes were deposited on BiVO4 nanocone arrays to form core-shell structure photoanode,all of which lead to enhanced photoelectrochemical performance.The photocurrent of the Co-Pi/BiVO4 photoanode under front-side illumination for 5 min is increased by 4 folds comparing to that of bare BiVO4 photoanode at 0.6 V vs.RHE,reaching a hole transfer efficiency as high as 94.5%at 1.23 V vs.RHE.The proposed photodeposition strategy is simple and efficient,and can be extended to deposite cocatalyst on other semiconductors with a valence band edge located at a potential more positive than the oxidation potential of transition metal ion in the cocatalyst.

Spatially Isolated Noble-Metal-Free Redox Cocatalysts on CdS Nanorods for Increased Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Spatially isolated oxidation and reduction cocatalysts on a semiconductor can realize efficient charge separation and thereby lead to increased photocatalytic hydrogen generation. However, the effective preparation of such photocatalysts has proven challenging.Herein, we report the facile synthesis of a novel noblemetal-free CdS/MoS/CoPi ternary photocatalyst via a visible light-induced synthesis route, in which MoSreduction cocatalysts were precisely grown on the two terminals of CdS nanorods, while CoPi oxidation cocatalysts were preferentially anchored onto the sidewalls of CdS nanorods. Such spatially isolated MoSand CoPi redox cocatalysts endow CdS nanorods with a rapid charge separation, which enhances their hydrogen generation activity. The CdS/MoS/CoPi photocatalyst with optimized CoPi amount achieves the highest Hgeneration rate of 206 μmol/h, which is 21 and 2 times higher than that achieved by using CdS alone(9.7 μmol/h) and CdS/MoS(105 μmol/h), respectively. The present work highlights the effectiveness of the spatial isolation of reduction and oxidation sites for efficient charge separation and thereby provides a promising strategy for the preparation of highly active photocatalysts.

An isolation strategy to anchor atomic Ni or Co cocatalysts on TiO_(2)(A)for photocatalytic hydrogen production

TiO_(2) has been considered as an ideal photocatalyst for water splitting.However,narrow light absorbance,low charge separation efficiency,and rare surface active sites lead to the low photocatalytic efficiency of TiO_(2).Although extensive research attempted to improve the situation,there is still lack of method for constructing high active and noble-metal-free TiO_(2) photocatalyst for H_(2) evolution reactions(HER).In this work,we loaded single atomic(SA)Ni(or Co)on the surface of anatase TiO_(2)(TiO_(2)(A))nanosheets by an isolation strategy.Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid and ethylene glycol(EDTA-EG)compounds were used to chelate metal ions in solution and form carbon quantum dots in the following thermal treatment to isolate the metal ions on surface of TiO_(2)(A).The prepared Ni SA/TiO_(2)(A)catalyst owned a“skin wrapped body”structure with in-situ formed twodimensional(2D)heterojunction facilitating the fast electron transfer.As a result,the Ni SA/TiO_(2)(A)catalyst showed a high H_(2) evolution rate of 2,900μmol·g−1·h−1.This work provides an isolation strategy for constructing promising single-atom metal catalyst for photocatalysis and beyond.

Position-selected cocatalyst modification on a Z-scheme Cd_(0.5)Zn_(0.5)S/NiTiO_(3) photocatalyst for boosted H_(2) evolution

Photocatalytic water splitting by semiconductors is a promising technology to produce clean H_(2) fuel,but the efficiency is restrained seriously by the high overpotential of the H_(2)-evolution reaction together with the high recombination rate of photoinduced charges.To enhance H_(2) production,it is highly desirable yet challenging to explore an efficient reductive cocatalyst and place it precisely on the right sites of the photocatalyst surface to work the proton reduction reaction exclusively.Herein,the metalloid NixP cocatalyst is exactly positioned on the Z-scheme Cd_(0.5)Zn_(0.5)S/NiTiO_(3)(CZS/NTO)heterostructure through a facile photodeposition strategy,which renders the cocatalyst form solely at the electron-collecting locations.It is revealed that the directional transfer of photoexcited electrons from Cd_(0.5)Zn_(0.5)S to Ni_(x)P suppresses the quenching of charge carriers.Under visible light,the CZS/NTO hybrid loaded with the Ni_(x)P cocatalyst exhibits an optimal H_(2) yield rate of 1103μmol h^(-1)(i.e.,27.57 mmol h^(-1)g^(-1)),which is about twofold of pristine CZS/NTO and comparable to the counterpart deposited with the Pt cocatalyst.Besides,the high apparent quantum yield(AQY)of 56%is reached at 400 nm.Further,the mechanisms of the cocatalyst formation and the H2 generation reaction are discussed in detail.

Recent advances in titanium carbide MXene-based nanotextures with influential effect of synthesis parameters for solar CO_(2)reduction and H_(2)production:A critical review

Photocatalytic solar to energy conversion is considered an attractive approach for overcoming energy crises and environmental concerns.Recently,titanium carbide(Ti_(3)C_(2))MXenes have been recognized as promising cocatalysts based on their metallic conductivity,excessive active reaction sites,and enlarged surface area.The current review focuses on the properties and applications of Ti_(3)C_(2)MXenes useful in the field of photocatalysis.More specifically,surface modification of Ti_(3)C_(2)MXenes by varying synthesis parameters to get pure materials and also composites with the role of functional groups towards solar energy conversion applications is highlighted in this review.The effect of etching and oxidizing pathways to get an efficient cocatalyst has been discussed in detail.Considering the significant effect of parameters,optimum synthesis conditions such as etchant type,concentration,time and type of intercalant in both the Ti_(3)C_(2)synthesis approaches for improved photoactivity are discussed.Additionally,the surface modification of Ti_(3)C_(2)through oxidation for TiO2growth on its surface is deliberated with a detailed discussion on etchant type,concentration,etching time,and environmental factors.The optimum oxidation condition,including temperature,time,and environment for thermal treatment of Ti_(3)C_(2),were also included.Lastly,the review summarizes the conclusion and future perspectives for solar energy conversion applications.

Synthesis of AgCl/Ti_(3)C_(2)@TiO_(2)Ternary Composite Photocatalysts for Photocatalytic Oxidation of 1,4-Dihydropyridine and Tetracycline Hydrochloride

AgCl/Ti_(3)C_(2)@TiO_(2)ternary composites were prepared to form a heterojunction structure between AgCl and TiO_(2)and introduce Ti3C2 as a cocatalyst.The as-prepared AgCl/Ti_(3)C_(2)@TiO_(2)composites showed higher photocatalytic activity than pure AgCl and Ti_(3)C_(2)@TiO_(2)for photooxidation of a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative(1,4-DHP)and tetracycline hydrochloride(TCH)under visible light irradiation(λ>400 nm).The photocatalytic activity of AgCl/Ti_(3)C_(2)@TiO_(2)composites depended on Ti_(3)C_(2)@TiO_(2)content,and the catalytic activity of the optimized samples were 6.9 times higher than that of pure AgCl for 1,4-DHP photodehydrogenation and 7.3 times higher than that of Ti_(3)C_(2)@TiO_(2)for TCH photooxidation.The increased photocatalytic activity was due to the formation of a heterojunction structure between AgCl and TiO_(2)and the introduction of Ti3C2 as a cocatalyst,which lowered the internal resistance,sped up the charge transfer,and increased the separation efficiency of photogenerated carries.Photogenerated holes and superoxide radical anions were the major active species in the photocatalytic process.

Theoretical investigation of loading Ni clusters on the α-Ga_2O_3 surfaces for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

In the semiconductor-based photocatalysts for overall water splitting, loading proper cocatalysts play a crucial role in enhancing the photocatalytic activity. In this work, we have chosen Ni_n/α-Ga_2O_3 as a model and provided detailed density functional theory calculations to investigate the function of cocatalysts in hydrogen evolution reaction(HER). We have studied the formation and stability of Ni_n(n = 1–4) cluster on two stable surfaces of α-Ga_2O_3(001) and(012). In a Ni_n/α-Ga_2O_3 system, as the Ni 3d states well overlap with O and Ga states, the excited electrons transferred from Ga to Ni may participate in HER. We theoretically predict that introduction of Nincluster on(012) surface can elevate the Fermi level toward the conduction band, which is favorable for the occurrence of HER. Electrochemical computations are used to explore the mechanism of HER. It is found that, in most of Ni_n/α-Ga_2O_3 systems, the active sites of HER are on Ni_n clusters. Loading Ni_n clusters not only importantly reduces the Gibbs free energy of HER but also improves the reaction activity of surface O and Ga sites in HER. Our calculations reasonably explain the experimental observation on significant enhancement of activity for generating hydrogen after loading nickel oxide cocatalysts.

Carbon-coated cubic-phase molybdenum carbide nanoparticle for enhanced photocatalytic H2-evolution performance of TiO_(2)

Conventional hexagonal dimolybdenum carbide(Mo2 C) as a good cocatalyst has been widely applied for the enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production of various photocatalysts. Compared with the hexagonal Mo2 C, however, the investigation about cubic molybdenum carbide(Mo C) is still very limited in photocatalytic field. In this study, carbon-coated cubic molybdenum carbide(MoC@C) nanoparticle was synthesized and used as an effective cocatalyst to improve the H2-evolution efficiency of Ti O2. The cubic MoC@C can be obtained by adjusting the mass ratio of C3 N3(NH2)3 to(NH4)6 Mo7 O(24)(2:1) and controlling the calcination temperature to 800 °C. When the above cubic MoC@C nanoparticles were evenly loaded on the Ti O2 via a sonication-assisted deposition, a homogeneous composite of TiO2/MoC@C was formed due to the strong coupling interface between TiO2 and cubic MoC nanoparticles. More importantly, the highest H2-production rate of Ti O-12/MoC@C reached 504 μmol hg^(-1)(AQE=1.43%), which was 50 times as high as that of the pure TiO2. The enhanced performance of TiO2/MoC@C can be attributed to the synergistic effect of carbon layer as an electron mediator and the cubic MoC as interfacial H2-evolution active sites. This work provides a feasible guideline to develop high-efficiency Mo-based cocatalysts for potential applications in the H2-evolution field.