Ni doped noble-metal-free CdZnNiS photocatalyst for high-efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reduction by visible light driving

In this paper, we report a method that the transition element nickel is doped into the interstitial position of CdZnS (CZS) nanoparticles for their photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity boosting. It is demonstrated that CdZnNiS nanocrystalline materials (with 0.5 wt% of Ni) could achieve the highest photocatalytic H2-evolution activity of 25.4 mmol·g−1·h−1 in sulfide and sulfite solution under visible light which value is 1.16 times higher than that of Pt modified CdZnS particles (with 3 wt% of Pt). This work evidences the possibility of substitution of noble metal cocatalyst by adding a suitable inexpensive Ni to achieve high-efficient visible light driven water splitting hydrogen production.