Interface Engineering of a 2D-C3N4/NiFe-LDH Heterostructure for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Photocatalytic water splitting offers an economic and sustainable pathway for producing hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel, but it still suffers from low efficiencies limited by visible-light absorption capacity and charge separation kinetics. Herein, we report an interface-engineered 2D-C3N4/NiFe layered double hydroxide (CN/ LDH) heterostructure that shows highly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) rate with excellent long-term stability. The morphology and band gap structure of NiFe-LDH are precisely regulated by employing NH4F as a structure-directing agent, which enables a fine interfacial tuning via coupling with 2D-C3N4. The formation of a type II interface in CN/LDH enlarges the active surface area and promotes the charge separation efficiency, leading to an HER rate of 3087 mu mol g(-1) h(-1), which is 14 times higher than that of 2D-C3N4. This study highlights a rational interface engineering strategy for the formation of a heterostructure with a proper hole transport co-catalyst for designing effective water-splitting photocatalysts.

Automated summary

The study presents an interface-engineered 2D-C3N4/NiFe layered double hydroxide (CN/LDH) heterostructure with highly enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) rate. The precise regulation of the morphology and band gap structure of NiFe-LDH using NH4F as a structure-directing agent enables fine interfacial tuning, leading to an enlarged active surface area and improved charge separation efficiency in CN/LDH with a type II interface. The rational interface engineering strategy highlighted in this research offers a promising method for designing effective water-splitting photocatalysts with a proper hole transport co-catalyst.