Wide spectral photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of elemental red phosphorus supported with Au nanoparticles

Elemental red phosphorus (P) responds well to sunlight but displays low photocatalytic activity of H2 evolution. Au/P composites were fabricated by a facile photoreduction method in this paper. 0.5% Au/P showed the highest activity of H2 evolution, 2.97 and 2.47 folds of pure P under visible and near-infrared light, especially, obtained the fastest H2 generation rate of 564.11 μmol·g−1·h−1 under the full spectrum of Xe lamp irradiation. The Au cocatalyst efficiently separated the photocarriers and enhanced the activity of pure P. It provides guideline to rationally design excellent wide spectral photocatalyst for water splitting. [Display omitted] •Au/P composite was constructed by a facile photoreduction method.•Au/P generated more amount of H2 than pure P under wide spectral irradiation.•Au acted as efficient electron cocatalyst for photocarriers separation.