Integrating Ni(OH)2 Nanoparticles on CdS for Efficient Noble-Metal-Free Photocatalytic H2 Evolution

Zemeng Wang; Piaopiao Wu; Weiya Huang; Kai Yang; Kangqiang Lu; Zhaoguo Hong

doi:10.3390/molecules29245821

Integrating Ni(OH)₂ Nanoparticles on CdS for Efficient Noble-Metal-Free Photocatalytic H₂ Evolution

Molecules. 2024 Dec 10;29(24):5821. doi: 10.3390/molecules29245821.

Authors

Zemeng Wang¹, Piaopiao Wu¹, Weiya Huang¹, Kai Yang¹, Kangqiang Lu¹, Zhaoguo Hong²

Affiliations

¹ Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Functional Crystalline Materials Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China.
² School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, China.

Abstract

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution using inexhaustible clean solar energy is considered as a promising strategy. In order to build an efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production system to satisfy the demands of practical applications, it is of great significance to design photocatalysts that offer high activity, low cost, and high stability. Herein, a series of cheap CdS/Ni(OH)₂ composite photocatalysts were designed and synthesized using the hydrothermal method. The introduction of a Ni(OH)₂ cocatalyst multiplied the reactive active site of cadmium sulfide and promoted the transfer of photoinduced electrons in a semiconductor. Therefore, CdS/Ni(OH)₂ composites demonstrate significantly better photocatalytic performance, and the hydrogen production rate of an optimal CdS/5%Ni(OH)₂ composite is 6.9 times higher than that of blank CdS. Furthermore, the stability test also showed that CdS/Ni(OH)₂ had good stability. This study aims to serve as a rewarding reference for the development of high-performance composite photocatalysts.

Keywords: H2 evolution; cadmium sulfide; cocatalyst; nickel hydroxide; photocatalysis.

Grants and funding

This work was financially supported by the Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation (No. 20212BAB213016, 20224BAB203018, 20224ACB213010), the Jiangxi Province “Double Thousand Plan” (No. jxsq2023102143, jxsq2023102142, jxsq2023201086, jxsq2023102141, jxsq2019102053), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22366018, 5236005, 22462010), the Program of Qingjiang Excellent Young Talents, JXUST (No. JXUSTQJBJ2020005), Jiangxi University of Science and Technology students’ innovation and entrepreneurship training program (Preparation of nickel-cobalt dual-active site cocatalyst and their light-driven CO₂ reduction performance research, S202410407065).