Bimetallic Pt-Ni alloy confined within moderated carbon vacancy enriched g-C3N4 for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

In this study, a bimetallic Pt-Ni alloy catalyst, designated PN 0.5 /VCN 1 , was synthesized with the objective of enhancing the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance. Photoelectrochemical characterizations confirm that PN 0.5 /VCN 1 significantly improves light absorption, charge transfer efficiency, and proton adsorption/activation capability, leading to enhanced photocatalytic performance. The results demonstrate that under optimized conditions (300 W Xe lamp, lactic acid as the hole scavenger) PN 0.5 /VCN 1 achieves a hydrogen evolution rate of 8.77 mmol·g -1 ·h -1 (4079 times higher than pure CN) with remarkable stability. And stability tests over four cycles (20 h total) indicate no significant activity loss. This enhancement is attributed to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect of the alloy, interfacial electron redistribution, and synergistic metal-defect interactions. The modification strategy proposed in this study offers a rational and cost-effective approach for efficient photogenerated charge separation and accelerated proton reduction kinetics, providing a competitive advantage in the market. This work provides a foundation for designing high-performance photocatalytic systems.