Mn0.2Cd0.8S nanowires modified by CoP3 nanoparticles for highly efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution under visible light irradiation

Abstract Development of highly efficient and low-cost noble metal-free co-catalysts for photocatalytic H2 evolution from water splitting has been aiming at a long-term goal of a renewable hydrogen economy. Herein, a series of novel Mn0.2Cd0.8S/CoP3 composites have been successfully prepared through loading CoP3 nanoparticles on the surface of one dimensional (1D) Mn0.2Cd0.8S nanowires (NWs) by a facile solvothermal method. Under visible light (λ ≥ 420 nm) irradiation, the as-prepared Mn0.2Cd0.8S/CoP3 composite with 2.87 wt% of CoP3 displayed the highest photocatalytic H2 evolution activity with a corresponding H2 evolution rate of 29.53 mmol g−1 h−1 and an apparent quantum yield of 29.2% at 420 nm, which was about 5.02 times higher than that of pure Mn0.2Cd0.8S and 1.79 times than that of Mn0.2Cd0.8S/Pt-1.5 wt%. Moreover, the Mn0.2Cd0.8S/CoP3 composite exhibited excellent photostability. The superior photocatalytic activity of Mn0.2Cd0.8S/CoP3 composite was predominantly attributed to the synergistic effects of highly efficient charge separation efficiency and sufficient active sites for H2 evolution reaction. This work revealed that low-cost CoP3 can replace noble metal Pt as a highly efficient co-catalyst for enhancing the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor materials.