Photocatalytic solar to chemical energy conversion is an important energy conversion process but suffer from low efficiency. Thus, development of efficient photocatalytic system using earth-abundant elements with low costs is highly desirable. Here, antiperovskite cobalt zinc nitride has been synthesized and coupled with carbon black (Co₃ZnN/C) for visible light driven hydrogen production in an Eosin Y-sensitized system. Replacement of cobalt atom by zinc atom leads to an improved charge transfer kinetics and catalytic properties compared with Co₄N. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further reveal the adjusted electronic structure of Co₃ZnN by zinc atom introducing. The lower antibonding energy states of Co₃ZnN are beneficial for the hydrogen desorption. Moreover, carbon black as support effectively reduces the particle size of Co₃ZnN and benefits to the electron storage and adsorption capabilities. The optimal Co₃ZnN/C catalysts exhibit the H₂ evolution rate of 15.4 μmol mg^-1 h^-1, which is over 6 times higher than that of monometallic Co₄N. It is even greater than those of most of Eosin Y-sensitized systems.

光催化太阳能到化学能的转换是重要的能量转换过程，但是效率低下。因此，非常需要开发使用低成本的富含地球的元素的有效的光催化系统。在这里，已经合成了抗钙钛矿型钴锌氮化锌，并与炭黑（Co ₃ ZnN / C）偶联，用于在曙红Y敏化系统中产生可见光，驱动氢的产生。与Co ₄ N相比，用锌原子取代钴原子可改善电荷转移动力学和催化性能。密度泛函理论（DFT）计算进一步揭示了通过引入锌原子可调节Co ₃ ZnN的电子结构。Co ₃的较低抗键能态ZnN对于氢解吸是有益的。此外，作为载体的炭黑有效地减小了Co ₃ ZnN的粒径，并有利于电子存储和吸附能力。最佳的Co ₃ ZnN / C催化剂的H ₂释放速率为15.4μmolmg ^-1 h ^-1，是单金属Co ₄ N的H ₂释放速率的6倍以上。甚至比大多数曙红Y-的高。敏化系统。