Hybrid 0D/2D Ni2P quantum dot loaded TiO2(B) nanosheet photothermal catalysts for enhanced hydrogen evolution.

• 0D/2D Ni 2 P quantum dots/TiO 2 (B) nanosheets architecture was synthesized by a solvothermal method. • Photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate is superior to the noble metal Pt as cocatalyst. • The quantum efficiency of 10% Ni 2 P/TiO 2 (B) nanosheets is as high as 31% at 313 nm. • The H 2 production can be further enhanced 5 times by photothermal synergistic reaction at 90 °C. The development of low cost, stable, robust photocatalysts to convert solar energy into hydrogen energy is an important challenge. Here, we describe a simple solvothermal method to successfully fabricate a catalyst with a hybrid 0D/2D Ni 2 P quantum dot/TiO 2 (B) nanosheet architecture. HRTEM shows that Ni 2 P quantum dots about 5 nm in size were dispersed on ultrathin TiO 2 (B) nanosheets. The optimum photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate with 10 wt% Ni 2 P/TiO 2 (B) (3.966 mmol g−1 h−1) was superior to Pt loaded TiO 2 (B) (3.893 mmol h−1 g−1), which was 15 times higher than pure TiO 2 (B) nanosheets. Significantly, the new catalyst shows high stability and reusability in multiply cycled H 2 production runs for a 30 h period. The H 2 production rate can be considerably increased furthered by using synergistic photothermal H 2 evolution (20.129 mmol g−1 h−1 at 90 °C). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]