Construction of hollow NiTiO3/CuCo2S4 double-shell nanospheres for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Hydrogen is a secondary fuel with various characteristics that include high safety, environmental protection, high energy and cleanliness. In recent years, the use of solar energy to produce hydrogen has received extensive attention. In this paper, NiTiO 3 nanoparticles were used to modify CuCo 2 S 4 to construct hollow NiTiO 3 /CuCo 2 S 4 double-shell photocatalyst. Under the light irradiation, the optimal hydrogen evolution rate of the synthesized NiTiO 3 /CuCo 2 S 4 photocatalyst was 6.24 mmol g −1 h −1 . The experimental results indicated that the NiTiO 3 /CuCo 2 S 4 composite, featuring a hollow double-shell structure, significantly augmented the capacity for visible light absorption and further suppressed the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Additionally, the formation of a Z-scheme heterojunction within the photocatalyst effectively enhanced the redox capability. The research introduced a promising Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, offered innovative insights into the field of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, thereby contributing to the conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels.