Ni-P cluster modified carbon nitride toward efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production

Exploring low-cost cocatalyst to take over noble metal cocatalyst is still challenging in the field of photocatalytic proton reduction. Herein, Ni-P alloy clusters are anchored onto the surface of polymeric carbon nitride through a chemical plating method and serve as highly efficient and stable cocatalyst toward photocatalytic proton reduction. An effective role in promoting the charge separation and migration of the photocatalytic system is demonstrated for Ni-P clusters, which essentially enhance the photocatalytic H-2-production rate to a value of 1506 mu mol h(-1) g(-1). This performance is comparable to that of the benchmark of Pt-modified carbon nitride. This work highlights that the Ni-P alloy could be a potential alternative to noble metal cocatalyst in the photocatalytic reactions. (C) 2019, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.