Nickel sulfide modified TiO2 nanotubes with highly efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution activity

TiO2 nanotubes (TNTs) with nickel sulfide (NiS) co-catalyst were prepared by a simple solvothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, N2-physisorption, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Loading NiS nano-clusters can significantly enhance the photocatalytic H2 evolution performance of TNTs. The optimum NiS loading content was found to be 8 wt% and the corresponding hydrogen production rate is ca. 7486 µmol/h/g, being about 79 times higher than that of pure TNTs. This enhancement of photocatalytic H2 evolution was attributed to the synergistic effect between NiS and TNTs.

Graphical abstractNiS is firstly used as co-catalyst to modified TNTs, and the synergistic effect between NiS and TNTs can promote photo electrons transferring quickly from TNTs to NiS, which can promote photocatalyst’s H2 production activity.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide