Metal-free graphene quantum dots photosensitizer coupled with nickel phosphide cocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production in water under visible light

Metal-free OH-functionalized graphene quantum dots (OH-GQDs) were used as the photosensitizer coupled with Ni2P nanoparticles (NPs) for photocatalytic H2 production under visible light. The H2 production rate is ∼94 times higher than that of bare OH-GQDs, which is even comparable to that of OH-GQDs with 1 wt% Pt cocatalyst. This enhancement is probably due to the semiconductor-cocatalyst interface interaction between Ni2P and OH-GQDs to facilitate efficient charge transfer process.