Fabricating of multi-interfacial charge transfer paths in the novel noble-metal-free Ni2P/ZnS/g-C3N4 ternary nanocomposite for enhanced charge separation and transfer for photocatalytic H2 generation

This work reports the development of a novel Ni₂P/ZnS/C₃N₄ ternary nanocomposite photocatalyst for efficient hydrogen (H₂) production. The nanocomposite was synthesized using a facile approach combining hydrothermal synthesis, ball milling, and wet impregnation methods then characterized using various techniques. Photocatalytic H₂ generation was evaluated under simulated solar irradiation with sodium sulfite (Na₂SO₃)/sodium sulfide (Na₂S) as sacrificial reagents. The optimized 3NP/ZnS-8CN (3% Ni2P/ZnS/8% C3N4) catalyst displayed an exceptional H₂ generation rate of 3991 µmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹, exceeding both pristine g-C3N4 (by 10.2 times) and 3% Ni2P/ZnS (by 1.2 times). This represents the highest reported rate of H₂ evolution for a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) based ternary nanocomposite under simulated solar radiation. Furthermore, the 3NP/ZnS-8CN photocatalyst exhibited good stability over four reaction cycles. This study provides valuable insights for designing efficient noble metal-free g-C3N4-based photocatalysts, which can significantly contribute to the transition to solar-driven hydrogen generation. The results of this study suggest that the synthesized composite materials hold significant promise for the advancement of new energy technologies.