Pt-Ni contact engineering in carbon nitride based photocatalysts for hydrogen production

The effect of a binary PtNi co-catalyst supported on graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets is studied in the photo-production of hydrogen from methanol:water mixtures. The physicochemical analysis provides evidence that the carbon nitride support allows the formation of highly dispersed PtNi nanoparticles with an average composition of Pt 85 % Ni 15 %. The binary system outperforms the monometallic Pt and Ni counterparts and renders an extraordinary quantum efficiency of 8.8 % for hydrogen photo-production. The formation of a PtNi alloy, with a Pt-enriched surface and electronic properties influenced by the heterometallic contact, provides high and stable activity, mostly as a consequence of the effects that the co-catalyst exerts on the charge carrier handling capa-bility of the solid.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effect of a binary PtNi co-catalyst supported on graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets in the photo-production of hydrogen from methanol:water mixtures. The results show that the carbon nitride support allows the formation of highly dispersed PtNi nanoparticles, and the binary system outperforms the monometallic Pt and Ni counterparts, achieving an extraordinary quantum efficiency of 8.8% for hydrogen photo-production.