title: Markedly enhanced visible-light photocatalytic H2generation over g-C3N4nanosheets decorated by robust nickel phosphide (Ni12P5) cocatalysts.
abstract: In the present work, nickel phosphide (Ni12P5) modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets were synthesized by a simple grinding method. The structural characterization clearly proved that Ni12P5nanoparticles were well loaded on the surface of g-C3N4nanosheets. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was tested by catalyzing the reduction of water to hydrogen under visible light irradiation. The results demonstrate that Ni12P5is an efficient co-catalyst for photocatalytic H2production of g-C3N4nanosheets. The maximum photocatalytic H2-production rate of 126.61 μmol g-1h-1could be obtained by loading 2.0% Ni12P5nanoparticles on the surface of g-C3N4, which is about 269.4 times higher than that of pure g-C3N4. It is believed that Ni12P5nanoparticles on the surface of g-C3N4could act as significant active sites to boost separation of photoexcited electrons and holes and accelerate the H2-evolution kinetics, thus achieving greatly enhanced hydrogen generation. It is expected that this work could contribute to further experimental investigation for exploiting the low cost, high-efficiency, and environmentally friendly g-C3N4-based nanocomposites for photocatalytic H2production.
authors.affiliation: College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China. Xinliscau@yahoo.com and College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China and Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Institute of New Energy and New Materials, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiuqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China. Xinliscau@yahoo.com and College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China and Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Institute of New Energy and New Materials, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China. Xinliscau@yahoo.com and College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China and Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Institute of New Energy and New Materials, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
authors.forename: Rongchen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China. Xinliscau@yahoo.com and College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China and Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Institute of New Energy and New Materials, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4842-5054
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China. Xinliscau@yahoo.com and Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Institute of New Energy and New Materials, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
authors.forename: XingYi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China. Xinliscau@yahoo.com and College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China and Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Institute of New Energy and New Materials, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongdan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China. Xinliscau@yahoo.com and College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China and Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Institute of New Energy and New Materials, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
authors.forename: Aiping
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Materials and Energy, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China. Xinliscau@yahoo.com and College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China and Key Laboratory of Energy Plants Resource and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Biomass Energy of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Institute of New Energy and New Materials, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, PR China.
authors.forename: Guican
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bi