Noble-metal-free Mo2C co-catalsyt modified perovskite oxide nanosheet photocatalysts with enhanced hydrogen evolution performance

Abstract Developing low cost and highly efficient catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution reaction holds significant function in water splitting. The co-catalysts load on semiconductor can promote the rapid separation and migration of photon-generated carriers, active interfacial reaction and suppress photocorrosion. Herein, we report the synthesis of Mo2C nanoparticles (NPs) decorated K+Ca2Nb3O10− nanosheets (K+CNO‒ NSs) heterojunction photocatalyst, where the Mo2C is used as a co-catalyst. The optimal Mo2C/K+CNO‒ sample with a Mo2C loading amount of 3 wt% yields an enhanced H2 production rate of 686.5 μmol g‒1, which is about 8.8 times higher than that of bare K+CNO‒ NSs (78.1 μmol g‒1). The enhanced photocatalytic activity might be ascribed to the faster photoinduced electrons transfer due to the ultrathin structure of K+CNO‒ NSs and effective charge carrier separation derived from the abundant contact heterointerfaces between K+CNO‒ NSs and Mo2C NPs. This study provides a guidance to construct efficient non-noble metal co-catalyst for photocatalytic H2 evolution from water splitting.