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Enhancement of catalytic hydrogen evolution by NiS modification of ZnCo2O4 with cubic morphology

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Abstract

It was the constant pursuit of researchers to explore catalysts with higher catalytic activity, and the use of co-catalysts to modify the performance of photocatalytic materials had a significant effect on charge separation. In this paper, the non-precious metal NiS-modified ZnCo2O4 composite catalytic material prepared by hydrothermal method had high-efficiency catalytic performance. When the weight ratio of NiS to ZnCo2O4 was 12%, the optimal catalytic activity is 3.57 mmol g−1 h−1, which was more than twice that of ZnCo2O4. The presence of NiS not only improved the specific surface area of the catalyst and its ability to respond to light, but the close interface formed by the combination of the two monomer phases accelerated the transfer and the utilization of the photocharge on ZnCo2O4 to NiS, thereby promoting the separation of electron holes and improving the photocatalytic activity of the catalyst. According to the research results, the mechanism of hydrogen production in the photocatalytic system was revealed. In this paper, NiS was used to modify the bimetallic oxide with cubic appearance, which provided a new strategy for the development of new photocatalysts.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Xixia District Science and Technology Plan Project, Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia Province (NZ17262), Open Project of State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University (2019-KF-36), and New Catalytic Process in Clean Energy Production (ZDZX201803).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, 750021, People’s Republic of China

    Min Mao, Jing Xu, Jingjiao Li, Sheng Zhao & Xuanhao Li

  2. Ningxia Key Laboratory of Solar Chemical Conversion Technology, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, 750021, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Xu

  3. Key Laboratory for Chemical Engineering and Technology, State Ethnic Affairs Commission, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, 750021, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Xu

  4. State Key Laboratory of High-Efficiency Utilization of Coal and Green Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Xu

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  1. Min Mao
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  2. Jing Xu
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  3. Jingjiao Li
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Correspondence to Jing Xu.

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Mao, M., Xu, J., Li, J. et al. Enhancement of catalytic hydrogen evolution by NiS modification of ZnCo2O4 with cubic morphology. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 31, 12026–12040 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-03833-6

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