A hollow core-shell structure material NiCo2S4@Ni2P with uniform heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution reaction

A photocatalytic material, NiCo2S4@Ni2P, with a unique hollow core-shell structure based on hollow spherical NiCo2S4, which has a structure that is greatly advantageous for heterogeneous photocatalytic reactions, was successfully prepared. The unique hollow core-shell structure formed a homogeneous surface heterojunction, which caused the composite photocatalytic material to exhibit better photocatalytic HER activity and stability than the initial NiCo2S4 in the dye-sensitized system. The photocatalytic HER rate of the optimal photocatalytic material, NiCo2S4@Ni2P 10%, reached 77.97 mu mol h(-1)via the optimization of the photocatalytic H-2 evolution performance. XRD and XPS were used to study the crystal structure and valence state of the photocatalytic material, respectively. Additionally, its morphology and structure were observed by SEM and TEM, respectively. The CB and VB potentials were derived by combining empirical formulas based on the UV-vis DRS data. Finally, the photocatalytic HER mechanism was investigated by photoelectrochemical and PL tests combined with the above data.