Non-noble-metallic Ni2P nanoparticles modified OV-BiOBr with boosting photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution without sacrificial agent

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2023-05, Vol.325, p.122341, Article 122341
• Main Authors: Li, Xibao, Hu, Yan, Dong, Fan, Huang, Juntong, Han, Lu, Deng, Fang, Luo, Yidan, Xie, Yu, He, Chaozheng, Feng, Zhijun, Chen, Zhi, Zhu, Yongfa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hydrogen evolution; Ni2P; Oxygen vacancy BiOBr; Photoelectrochemical; Without sacrificial agent
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.122341

Non-noble-metallic Ni2P modified BiOBr with oxygen vacancy (OV) was synthesized by solvothermal method to construct novel OV-BiOBr/Ni2P nanoheterojunction. Compared with OV-BiOBr, the photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution of OV-BiOBr/Ni2P was significantly improved. OV-BiOBr/Ni2P-2% showed the best hydrogen evolution rate of 455.34 μmol·cm−2·h−1 without sacrificial agent, which was 5.94 times that of OV-BiOBr and 12.88 times that of pristine BiOBr. It was found that an appropriate amount of Ni2P loading enabled the closely contacted OV-BiOBr/Ni2P to have an optimal OV concentration, which realized the rapid electron-hole separation, simultaneously, the successful loading of Ni2P can effectively enhance the light absorption capacity. The formation of Bi-O-P chemical bond and nanoheterojunctions jointly promote electron transfer and inhibit carrier recombination. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations find that the hydrogen adsorption free energy of OV-BiOBr/Ni2P heterojunction is the lowest in this system. This study will provide some guidance for efficient photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution without sacrificial agent. [Display omitted] •Concentration of oxygen vacancy can be regulated by Ni2P content in OV-BiOBr/Ni2P.•Bi-O-P chemical bond and OV-BiOBr/Ni2P heterojunction promote electron transfer.•OV-BiOBr/Ni2P displays boosting PEC hydrogen evolution without sacrificial agent.