The ZnIn2S4/CdS hollow core-shell nanoheterostructure towards enhanced visible light photocatalytic H2 evolution via bimetallic synergism

The ZnIn₂S₄/CdS hollow core-shell nanoheterostructure with bimetallic synergism is synthesized via a hybrid chemical method. As revealed, the ZnIn₂S₄/CdS hollow core-shell nanoheterostructure (ZnIn₂S₄/CdS-3) exhibits remarkable visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (～5209.43 μmol·g^?1·h^?1, AQE of ～20.26%) than that of single CdS (～40 folds) and single ZnIn₂S₄ (～12 folds), and achieves decent photocatalytic stability (average HER performance of ～5056.80 μmol·g^?1·h^?1), which is mainly ascribed to that, the formed ZnIn₂S₄/CdS heterostructure with appropriate potential gradient and Zn/In bimetallic synergism can improve carrier transportation, including increasing carrier transportation, prolonging lifetime and decreasing recombination, the hollow core-shell nanostructure can provide abundant active sites and increase solar efficiency, while can maintain a photocatalytic stability.     

Fabrication of CdS/Zn2GeO4 heterojunction with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic H2 evolution activity

CdS/Zn₂GeO₄ (CG) composites were synthesized through the simple hydrothermal process. The crystal structure, morphology and light absorption property of the products were studied in detail. The CG composites showed excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production performance upon visible light illumination. Especially, the CG-3 composite displayed the highest H₂ evolution rate of 1719.8 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹, which was about 3.80 and 4.28 times higher than the pure CdS and Zn₂GeO₄. Besides, the cyclic stability of the CG-3 composite was also excellent. The PL, photocurrent response and EIS spectra results testified that the efficient separation and transfer of photoinduced charge carriers achieved between CdS and Zn₂GeO₄, which could result in the promotion of photocatalytic performance. Moreover, a possible mechanism of H₂ generation over CdS/Zn₂GeO₄ heterojunction was discussed. The practicable way to construct heterojunction composites would be helpful for the design of other systems with excellent photocatalytic property.     

Controllable growth of coral-like CuInS2 on one-dimensional SiO2 nanotube with super-hydrophilicity for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Designing a semiconductor photocatalyst with a unique structure is crucial for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The adsorption of water molecules is considered to be an important link affecting the photocatalytic activity. Nanoconfined water molecules inside the microporous SiO₂ nanotube adsorbed on the active sites boosting the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution compared with the bulk water system. Herein, hydrophilic porous SiO₂ hollow nanotubes were prepared through electrospinning fiber membranes as templates. CuInS₂ nanoparticles were uniformly deposited on porous SiO₂ hollow nanotubes to form CuInS₂/SiO₂ composites. The unique CuInS₂/SiO₂ hollow nanotube with a coral structure was prepared. A series of characterization results show that CuInS₂ supported on porous SiO₂ hollow nanotubes has two advantages. On the one hand, SiO₂ has excellent hydrophilicity and can be used as a micro water-collecting reactor to reduce mass transfer resistance. On the other hand, SiO₂ reduces the particle size of CuInS₂, thus improving the utilization rate of light, and inhibiting electron-hole recombination. The CuInS₂/SiO₂ with a coral structure exhibited the highest hydrogen production rate of 367.00 μmol g^?1 h^?1 under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm), which is 3.1 times than that of CuInS₂ powder. This work points out a novel method to enhance photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.     

Interstitial carbon doped of setaria viridis-like Znln2S4 hollow tubes for efficient the performance of photocatalytic hydrogen production

In the photocatalytic water splitting hydrogen production system, the key to efficient use of solar energy is to choose a suitable photocatalyst. As an important ternary sulfide, ZnIn₂S₄ (ZIS) has attracted wide attention because of its narrow band gap (E_g = 2.3–2.8 eV) and wide light absorption range. However, further modification was still needed. Therefore, in this work, the unique C/ZIS hollow tubes with nano-flakes were prepared by a simple solvothermal method. To a large extent, this unique structure increased the utilization of light and active sites. Moreover, the dissolution of PAN during the solvothermal process caused the carbon element to be uniformly doped into the hollow tube framework. After a series of characterization results, C/ZIS-3.0 has the best hydrogen release rate (1241.94 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹) and good cyclability under visible light irradiation (λ ≥ 420 nm). And its unique morphology and possible catalytic mechanism were further discussed.     

Heterostructured SnS2/SnO2 nanotubes with enhanced charge separation and excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production

SnO₂, a promising candidate for photocatalytic water splitting, displays poor activity due to insufficient light utilization and rapid electron-hole recombination of charge carriers. Herein, one-dimensional heterostructures of SnO₂/SnS₂ nanotubes was designed and synthesized through a facile electrospinning followed by vulcanized method. The unique heterostructured SnO₂/SnS₂ could simultaneously promote photocarrier transport and suppress charge recombination through the uniquely coupled SnO₂/SnS₂ heterogeneous interface. Additionally, the optimized type-II heterostructure could also improve light absorption and weak the barrier of photocharge transfer. As a result, the SnO₂/SnS₂ exhibited excellent photocatalytic H₂ evolution performance under simulated light irradiation with high H₂ production rate of 50 μmol h^?1 without the use of any noble metal co-catalyst, which is 4.2 times higher than that of pure SnO₂ under the same condition.     

In-situ synthesis of novel plate-like Co(OH)2 co-catalyst decorated TiO2 nanosheets with efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution activity

Efficient separation of photo-generated electrons and holes is a crucial aspect for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, novel plate-like Co(OH)₂ decorated TiO₂ nanosheets for photocatalytic water splitting were synthesized by a facile in-situ synthetic method. The results of X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), UV–Vis diffusion reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicate the successfully incorporation of Co(OH)₂ co-catalysts onto the surface of TiO₂ nanosheet photocatalysts. Further photocatalytic hydrogen evolution experiments illustrate that all Co(OH)₂ decorated TiO₂ samples show higher rate of hydrogen production performance than pure TiO₂ sample and the composite sample with Co(OH)₂ loading amount of 0.5mol% presents the highest photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of 746.93 μmol g^?1·h^?1. It is indicated that plate-like Co(OH)₂ particle act as an electron collector, which leads to photo-generated electrons transfer from TiO₂ to Co(OH)₂, and therefore enhance the photocatalytic activity. Based on above results, a possible mechanism is proposed and further verified by surface photovoltage spectra (SPV).     

Anchoring single Pt atoms on hollow Ag3VO4 spheres for improved activity towards photocatalytic H2 evolution reaction

The high cost of noble metal catalysts has been a great bottleneck for the catalyst industry. Using the noble metal at a single-atom level for catalytic applications could dramatically decrease the cost. The impacts of single Pt atoms on the photocatalytic performance of Ag₃VO₄ have been investigated and reported. In this report, single Pt atoms were anchored on the surface of Ag₃VO₄ (AVO) as a cocatalyst, and the resultant composite photocatalyst has been studied for photocatalytic H₂ production from water driven by visible light. The as-prepared AVO particles are hollow nanospheres in the monoclinic phase with a bandgap of 2.20 eV. The light absorption edge of AVO/Pt is slightly red-shifted compared to that of the pristine AVO, indicating more visible light absorption of AVO/Pt. The XPS peaks of Ag, V, and Pt exhibit a significant shift after AVO and Pt get into contact, suggesting the strong interaction between the surface Ag and V atoms, and single Pt atoms. After 3-h illumination, the photocatalytic H₂ evolution amount from AVO/Pt is improved up to 1400 μmol, which is 2.8 times that on the bare AVO. Such efficient photocatalytic H₂ evolution on AVO/Pt is still maintained after five reaction cycles. The better photocatalytic performance of AVO/Pt has been attributed to the more efficient visible light utilization and the lower interfacial charge transfer resistance, as demonstrated in the DRS and EIS spectra. The presence of the surface Pt atoms also leads to a higher amount of reactive radicals, which could efficiently promote the surface redox reactions.     

Lattice-strained Pt nanoparticles anchored on petroleum vacuum residue derived N-doped porous carbon as highly active and durable cathode catalysts for PEMFCs

High cost and poor durability of Pt-based cathode catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) severely hamper the popularization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Tailoring carbon support is one of effective strategies for improving the performance of Pt-based catalysts. Herein, petroleum vacuum residue was used as carbon source, and nitrogen-doped porous carbon (N-PPC) was synthesized using a simple template-assisted and secondary calcination method. Small Pt nanoparticles (Pt NPs) with an average particles size of 1.8 nm were in-situ prepared and spread evenly on the N-PPC. Interestingly, the lattice compression (1.08%) of Pt NPs on the N-PPC (Pt/N-PPC) was clearly observed by aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM), which was also verified by the shift of (111) crystal plane of Pt on N-PPC to higher angles. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results suggest that the N-PPC support had a strong effect on anchoring Pt NPs and endowing surface Pt NPs with lowered d band center. Thus, the Pt/N-PPC as a catalyst simultaneously boosted the ORR activity and durability. The specific activity (SA) and mass activity (MA) of the Pt/N-PPC at 0.9 V reached 0.83 mA cm⁻² and 0.37 A mg_Pt⁻¹, respectively, much higher than those of the commercial Pt/C (0.21 mA cm⁻² and 0.11 A mg_Pt⁻¹) in 0.1 M HClO₄. The half-wave potential (E_1/2) of Pt/N-PPC exhibited only a minimal negative shift of 7 mV after 30,000 accelerated durability tests (ADT) cycles. More importantly, an H₂–O₂ fuel cell with a Pt/N-PPC cathode achieved a power density of 866 mW cm⁻², demonstrating that the prepared catalyst has a promising application potential in working environment of PEMFCs.     

Dye-sensitized black phosphorus nanosheets decorated with Pt cocatalyst for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light

Although black phosphorous (BP) and its derived materials have shown great potential for application in photocatalytic H₂ evolution reaction (HER), their HER activity and stability still remains unsatisfied mainly due to the insufficient charge separation, the lack of surface active sites, and the defect-riched nature of BP. Herein, we report that BP nanosheets decorated with in situ grown Pt (BP NSs/Pt) could act as a highly efficient catalyst for photocatalytic H₂ evolution in an Erythrosin B (ErB)-sensitized system under visible light irradiation (≥450 nm) in the presence of triethanolamine (TEOA) as sacrificial electron donor. It is found that BP NSs can provide large surface area for the confined growth of Pt nanoparticles with a high dispersion and a reduced size but also stabilize the loaded Pt nanoparticles by covalent bonds at the BP NSs/Pt interfaces. Moreover, BP NSs offer a fast electron transfer pathway to facilitate the photocatalytic HER over in situ grown Pt catalyst. As a result, BP NSs/Pt catalyst exhibits ∼6 times higher H₂ evolution activity than free Pt nanoparticles and an apparent quantum yield (AQY) of 0.57% at 500 nm irradiation in ErB-TEOA system. This work indicates the potential of BP NSs as an effective 2D matrix to construct numerous high performance photocatalysts and photocatalytic systems.     

Floating microparticles of ZnIn2S4 @hollow glass microsphere for enhanced photocatalytic activity

The irreconcilable contradiction between high performance of photocatalysis and reclamation difficulty of micro/nano photocatalysts is still a barrier for the wide application of photocatalytic technology. In order to increase the efficiency of light utilization and facilitate recycling, visible-light photocatalysts ZnIn₂S₄ (ZIS) grafted on floating hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) were prepared through a controllable hydrothermal method. The hollow structural composite microspheres were prepared by depositing a layer of ZIS nano-film onto the surface of the coarsening hydroxyl/amino-functionalized HGMs via a chemical self-assembly process. The different pretreatment methods of HGMs resulted in the change in the structure pattern, morphology and photocatalytic activities of the as-prepared ZIS@HGMs composite microspheres. In addition, the possible growth mechanism of the formation process of ZIS@HGMs composite microspheres was proposed. Finally, the as-prepared ZIS@HGMs composite microspheres exhibited an enhanced degradation efficiency of Rhodamine B (RhB) versus ZIS powder under visible light irradiation. The as prepared floating photocatalysts have good dispersibility and could be recycled by simple filtration. The present study provided a promising approach to keep the high performance of photocatalysis as well as efficient recycling of micro/nano photocatalysts.     

CaH2-assisted structural engineering of porous defective graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The practical applications of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution is strictly hindered by the low surface area, poor light harvesting capability and detrimental recombination of photoexcited charge carriers. Herein, using melamine as precursor and metal hydride (i.e., CaH₂) as active agent, we facilely incorporate various types of defects (i.e., nitrogen (N) vacancies (V_N), cyano groups (CN) and surface absorbed oxygen species(O_abs)) into g-C₃N₄ within a single step. The as-prepared material (denoted as MM-H) exhibits narrowed bandgap, promoted photoexcited electron-hole separation rate and facilitated charge transfer kinetics with enlarged BET surface area and massive porosity. As a result, a prominently enhanced photocatalytic H₂ productivity efficiency (1305.9 μmol h⁻¹g⁻¹) is shown on MM-H. This performance is better than that of g-C₃N₄ with CaH₂ post-treatment (617.3 μmol h⁻¹g⁻¹) and raw bulk-C₃N₄ (178.2 μmol h⁻¹g⁻¹). This work opens up a new dimension for designing high performance g–C₃N₄–based catalysts targeting various photocatalytic processes.     

A nano heterostructure with step-accelerated system toward optimized photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Adequate light absorption and high carrier separation/transfer efficiency are central to elevate the development of highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, a unique nano heterostructure is constructed by translocating 0D CdSe@(Zn, Cd)Se@ZnS quantum dots (CSS QDs) into the 3D hollow spherical graphite carbon nitride (SCN). The ultrafast TA spectroscopy and electrochemical measurements were measured to reveal the enhanced surface dependent electron transfer efficiency. Besides, the density functional theory (DFT) calculations further explained the mechanism of electrons transfer between interfaces. As expected, benefiting from the structural advantages of SCN and the channel-driven effectiveness produced by a step-accelerated system which is composed of (Zn, Cd)Se and ZnS double-shell layers of CSS QDs, the optimal hydrogen evolution rate of the prepared material in the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction reached 132.5 μmol h^?1, which was 7.6 times higher than that of the pure SCN under visible light irradiation. This work provides a novel avenue into the construction of nano heterostructure for solar hydrogen evolution.     

Pt incorporated hollow core mesoporous shell carbon nanocomposite catalyst for proton exchange membrane fuel cells

In the present study, various commercial carbon black materials like Vulcan XC72, Black Pearl 2000, and Regal 330 were used as supporting material for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) electrocatalysts. A promising carbon material exhibiting hollow core mesoporous shell (HCMS) structure was synthesized by the template replication of the silica spheres with solid core and mesoporous shell structure. Two carbon supports with similar pore texture were prepared by the injection of two different carbon precursors. 20 wt% Pt/C electrocatalysts were synthesized by microwave irradiation method as the cathode electrode for PEMFC. Ex situ characterization of the electrocatalysts was performed by N₂ adsorption analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Electrochemical characterization of the electrocatalysts was conducted by cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis. Effect of different carbon supports on the cathode performance was investigated in a single cell H₂/O₂ PEMFC. Fuel cell performance tests and additional ex situ characterizations showed that HCMS carbons exhibit good support characteristics with improved single cell performance. For the cathode electrode kinetics, promising fuel cell performance results were obtained as compared to the commercial carbon blacks.     

Ultrafine and highly-dispersed bimetal Ni2P/Co2P encapsulated by hollow N-doped carbon nanospheres for efficient hydrogen evolution

Ultrafine Ni₂P/Co₂P nanoparticles encapsulated in hollow porous N-doped carbon nanospheres are synthesized through a facile two-step access. Firstly, metallic Ni and Co coated by hollow N-doped spheres as precursors are obtained through a high temperature calcination route of organic polymer and inorganic Ni and Co salts. Then bimetal Ni₂P/Co₂P supported on N-doped carbon nanospheres are acquired by a facile phosphorization process. It is worth to note that aniline-pyrrole polymer can prevent fast growth and severe aggregation of Ni₂P/Co₂P, which implies more exposed active sites. Moreover, the calcination of hollow polymer spheres lead to the formation of ultrathin NC shell on the surface of Ni₂P/Co₂P hybrids, which can tune electronic structures, improve the conductivity and protect active sites from corrosion in harsh conditions. When used as HER catalyst, it displays remarkable catalytic activity in both acidic and alkaline solutions, which needs an onset potential of only 164 mV and 168 mV, respectively. Therefore, this work may propose a new strategy to design unique inorganic-organic heterostructures to combine ultrafine metal phosphides with porous carbon for efficient HER.     

Ru-decorated Pt nanoparticles on N-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes by atomic layer deposition for direct methanol fuel cells

We present atomic layer deposition (ALD) as a new method for the preparation of highly dispersed Ru-decorated Pt nanoparticles for use as catalyst in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The nanoparticles were deposited onto N-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at 250 °C using trimethyl(methylcyclopentadienyl)platinum MeCpPtMe₃, bis(ethylcyclopentadienyl)ruthenium Ru(EtCp)₂ and O₂ as the precursors. Catalysts with 5, 10 and 20 ALD Ru cycles grown onto the CNT-supported ALD Pt nanoparticles (150 cycles) were prepared and tested towards the electro-oxidation of CO and methanol, using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry in a three-electrode electrochemical set-up. The catalyst decorated with 5 ALD Ru cycles was of highest activity in both reactions, followed by the ones with 10 and 20 ALD Ru cycles. It is demonstrated that ALD is a promising technique in the field of catalysis as highly dispersed nanoparticles of controlled size and composition can be deposited, with up-scaling prospects.     

The TiO2/Mn0.2Cd0.8S hollow heterojunction with Mn/Cd bimetallic synergy towards photocatalytic hydrogen production enhancement

The TiO₂/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S hollow heterojunction with Mn/Cd bimetallic synergy is prepared via a continuous chemical-hydrothermal-etching method. There, the TiO₂ shell and Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S nanoparticles were deposited by continuous chemical-hydrothermal method on the surface of SiO₂ template, and subsequently the SiO₂ template was etched via a chemical method. Evaluated by HER, the as-prepared TiO₂/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S hollow heterojunction exhibits an obvious photocatalytic enhancement to about ~5822.94 μmol/g∙h(~40 folds of TiO₂, ~7 folds of Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S), which can be mainly ascribed to that, the narrow band gap of Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S can increase the visible light energy utilization, the TiO₂/Mn_0.2Cd_0.8S heterojunction and Mn/Cd bimetallic synergy can separate/transfer the photo-generated charge carriers efficiently, and the sufficient specific surface areas and actives from 3D hollow structure can promote the charge carrier diffusing into water quickly for achieving H₂ generation. Additionally, the hollow 3D structure can provide a decent physical-chemical stability to improve the photocatalytic stability.     

Hierarchical porous TS-1/Pd/CdS catalysts for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

The conversion of water to hydrogen through solar energy is considered as a promising solution to the energy shortage and environmental problems. In this work, the alkali-treated titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) with a hierarchical porous structure was used as a carrier to prepare the TS-1/Pd/CdS catalysts with large specific surface area and wide photoresponse range. The hydrogen evolution rate of the 0.3NaOH-TS-1/Pd/CdS can reach 2556.0 μmol/h under visible light, which is about 3.5 times that of the Untreated TS-1/Pd/CdS. Herein, the catalysts with a composite structure are beneficial to the uniform dispersion of palladium and CdS quantum dots, the increase of the relative concentration of the active phase tetracoordinated titanium in the framework, and the enhancement of the reflecting and scattering of light in the multi-level pores, thus promoting the photocatalytic hydrogen production reaction.     

Ultrafine monodisperse NiS/NiS2 heteronanoparticles in situ grown on N-doped graphene nanosheets with enhanced electrocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction

The exploration of highly active and stable nonprecious electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of great significance for the advancement of diverse sustainable energy storage and conversion systems. Herein, we demonstrate a facile one-pot hydrothermal synthesis of ultrafine and monodisperse NiS/NiS₂ heteronanoparticles (ca. 3.2 nm) uniformly in situ grown on N-doped reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (denoted as NiS/NiS₂@N-rGO hereafter). In such unique NiS/NiS₂@N-rGO sample, the tiny-sized NiS/NiS₂ heteronanoparticles with abundant intimate interfacial contacts allow the effective modification of the electronic structure and more exposure of catalytically active sites. Moreover, the conductive N-rGO support could serve as a “highway” of in-plane charge transfer and facilitate the mass diffusion during the electrocatalytic process. As a consequence, the resultant NiS/NiS₂@N-rGO catalyst exhibits a superior HER performance with an overpotential of 148 mV to deliver a current density of 10 mA cm⁻² in 1.0 M KOH solution. The NiS/NiS₂@N-rGO catalyst could also endure long-term operation for 12 h with negligible activity attenuation and morphological change. The present study provides a feasible approach to explore efficient and robust non-noble metal-based electrocatalysts for a variety of renewable electrochemical applications.     

Pt encapsulated hollow mesoporous SiO2 sphere catalyst for sulfuric acid decomposition reaction in SI cycle

Sulfuric acid (SA) decomposition is one of three key reactions in sulfur Iodine (SI) cycle to produce hydrogen. The catalysts for the decomposition should be active and stable in a wide temperature range of 550–900 °C. Pt based catalysts have been explored for the application, but suffered from the Pt loss in high temperature (∼850 °C). TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ are used as a support. They can stabilize Pt metal at higher temperature, but are degraded at the temperature lower than 700 °C. SiO₂ supports with a high surface area are relatively stable in a sulfuric acid vapor stream, but the lower interaction with Pt results in high Pt sintering and Pt loss. Both Pt loss and Pt sintering at the high temperature are originated from Pt vaporization. Here, Pt metallic components are placed at the inner wall of hollow mesoporous SiO₂ spheres (Pt-HMSS) to preserve Pt components even at 850 °C. PtOx vapor vaporized during the SA decomposition can be re-dispersed on the inner wall of mesoporous SiO₂ shell, which can suppress the Pt loss; (1) temperature at outer wall is higher than temperature at inner wall during the endothermic reaction on Pt at the inner wall, (2) the mesoporous shell afford the long path to suppress the diffusion of PtOx vapor at the inner wall to the outer wall. Pt catalyst at the outer walls of hollow mesoporous SiO₂ spheres (HMSS-Pt) is prepared and tested for clarifying the hypothesis. Additionally, TiO₂-Pt catalyst, one of highly stable catalytic systems for the SA decomposition, is also prepared and compared with the Pt-HMSS catalyst.     

Decoration of nicale phosphide nanoparticles on CdS nanorods for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Manipulation of the co-catalyst plays an important role in charge separation and reactant activation to enhance the activity of CdS based photocatalysts. Transition-metal phosphides have aroused widespread interest in catalysis owing to their special structure and catalytic behavior. Herein, Ni₂P as a cocatalyst coupled with CdS for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with a rate of 483.25 mmol g^?1.h^?1, which was nearly 525 and 1.92 times higher than that of CdS (0.92 mmol g^?1.h^?1) and 1 wt% noble metal Pt modified CdS (251.29 mmol g^?1.h^?1), respectively. Its apparent quantum yield reaches 70% at 420 nm. Based on data analysis, Schottky heterostructure was constructed by combining Ni₂P with CdS. The Schottky junction provides a convenient way for photoinduced electrons to transfer and promotes the effective separation of photoinduced carriers.