A highly efficient and noble metal-free photocatalytic system using NixB/CdS as photocatalyst for visible light H2 production from aqueous solution

Photocatalytic H-2 production from water is one of the most attractive issues for the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy. In this study, the NixB/CdS photocatalyst was firstly used for photocatalytic H-2-evolution reaction and showed efficient visible-light photocatalytic activity and good stability for H-2-evolution from aqueous solution. The optimal NixB loading content was determined to be 0.8 wt.%, and the corresponding H-2-production rate reached up to 4.8 mmol.h(-1).g(-1), after a 10 h visible light irradiation. It is proposed that the loading of NixB on the surface of CdS could effectively increase the separation of photo-generated electrons and holes and greatly enhance the photocatalytic activity. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.