5 nm NiCoP nanoparticles coupled with g-C3N4 as high-performance photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) coupled with NiCoP nanoparticles with sizes around 5 nm have been fabricated via a controllable alcohothermal process. NiCoP is an excellent electron conductor and cocatalyst in photocatalytic reactions. The coupling between tiny NiCoP nanoparticles and g-C 3 N 4 through in-situ fabrication strategy could be a promising way to eliminate the light screening effect, hinder the recombination of photo-induced charge carriers, and improve the charge transfer. The NiCoP/g-C 3 N 4 nanohybrids exhibit an excellent photocatalytic activity in the hydrogen generation, with a significantly improved performance compared with original g-C 3 N 4 , CoP/g-C 3 N 4 and Ni 2 P/g-C 3 N 4 , respectively. This study paves a new way to design transition metal phosphides-based photocatalysts for hydrogen production.