Noble-metal-free Mo2C co-catalsyt modified perovskite oxide nanosheet photocatalysts with enhanced hydrogen evolution performance.

[Display omitted] • The Mo 2 C can be used as a cocatalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over K+Ca 2 Nb 3 O 10 − nanosheets. • The Mo 2 C/K+Ca 2 Nb 3 O 10 − heterojunction showed enhanced photocatalytic H 2 evolution activity. • The improved charge separation and transfer contributes to the enhanced catalytic activity. Developing low cost and highly efficient catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2) evolution reaction holds significant function in water splitting. The co-catalysts load on semiconductor can promote the rapid separation and migration of photon-generated carriers, active interfacial reaction and suppress photocorrosion. Herein, we report the synthesis of Mo 2 C nanoparticles (NPs) decorated K+Ca 2 Nb 3 O 10 − nanosheets (K+CNO− NSs) heterojunction photocatalyst, where the Mo 2 C is used as a co-catalyst. The optimal Mo 2 C/K+CNO− sample with a Mo 2 C loading amount of 3 wt% yields an enhanced H 2 production rate of 686.5 μmol g‒1, which is about 8.8 times higher than that of bare K+CNO‒ NSs (78.1 μmol g‒1). The enhanced photocatalytic activity might be ascribed to the faster photoinduced electrons transfer due to the ultrathin structure of K+CNO− NSs and effective charge carrier separation derived from the abundant contact heterointerfaces between K+CNO− NSs and Mo 2 C NPs. This study provides a guidance to construct efficient non-noble metal co-catalyst for photocatalytic H 2 evolution from water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]