Fabricating NixCo1−xO@C cocatalysts sensitized by CdS through electrostatic interaction for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution

Abstract Exploiting efficient and stable noble metal-free hydrogen evolution catalysts for water splitting is of great importance. In this work, NixCo1-xO@C/CdS hybrid is successfully fabricated through an electrostatic interaction of oppositely charged nanoparticles on their surfaces. The resulting NixCo1-xO@C nanoboxes cocatalysts which were derived from NiCo-LDH@ZIF-67 with Ni–Co layered double hydroxides (LDH) decorated with ZIF-67 precursor exhibited improved hydrogen production rate compared with bare CdS semiconductor from 0.7 mmol g−1 h−1 to 56 mmol g−1 h−1. It is demonstrated that the electrostatic interaction between the two surface charged nanoparticles of NixCo1-xO@C and CdS play an important role in migrating and separating of photogenerated charge carriers. The synthesized NixCo1-xO@C as excellent candidates for cost-effective cocatalysts is aimed to substitute for noble metals in photocatalytic H2 evolution.