Photochemical synthesis of Ni-Ni(OH)2 synergistic cocatalysts hybridized with CdS nanorods for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract Ni-Ni(OH)2 composite was synthesized by a novel and facile photodeposition strategy and used as the cocatalyst of CdS for solar-to-hydrogen conversion. Under visible light, the hydrogen evolution rate of Ni-Ni(OH)2/CdS was 428 mmol g-1 h-1 and remained essentially unchanged after 24 hours in Na2S/Na2SO3 aqueous solution. In particular, the Ni-Ni(OH)2/CdS also displayed excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity (13.3 mmol g-1 h-1) in 40 vol% glycerol. A set of spectroscopy and electrochemical characterizations were performed to explore the photoinduced interfacial charge dynamics. Ni and Ni(OH)2 were synergistic cocatalysts for improving charge utilization and photocatalytic performance.