Ni-Mo ternary nitrides based one-dimensional hierarchical structures for efficient hydrogen evolution

Efficient semiconductor-cocatalyst junctions are of direct relevance to solar energy based fuel generation. Here, Ni-Mo ternary nitrides based one-dimensional hierarchical structures (In2S3-Ni0.2Mo0.8N(Ni)) have been successfully prepared and used to achieve visible light driven H2 evolution. Because of the metallic-like properties of the transition metal nitrides, Ni0.2Mo0.8N(Ni) as co-catalysts can promote photo-generated charge-carriers transportation/separation and decrease the overpotential of H2-evolution. Thus, the photocatalytic property of optimal 1 wt% In2S3-Ni0.2Mo0.8N(Ni) exhibits a hydrogen evolution rate of 614.2 μmol g-1 h−1, which is about 10 times as high as that of blank In2S3 (61.4 μmol g−1 h−1). Besides, the pure Ni0.2Mo0.8N shows higher co-catalytic properties than Ni0.2Mo0.8N(Ni). This indicates that the metallic Ni (and related species) lowers the co-catalytic role of ternary nitrides. Another robust indication of this is the fact that In2S3-Ni0.2Mo0.8N nanohybrid displays about 2 times higher H2 evolution rate than In2S3-Ni0.2Mo0.8N(Ni).