Co-doped Mo-Mo2C cocatalyst for enhanced g-C3N4 photocatalytic H2 evolution

[Display omitted] •Co doped Mo-Mo2C is an efficient non-noble-metal cocatalyst for visible light photocatalytic H2 production.•H2 production rate of 2.0 wt.% Co(Mo-Mo2C)/g-C3N4 photocatalyst is 1.4 times greater than that of 2.0 wt.% Pt/g-C3N4.•Co doping can suppress charge recombination, thereby improving the activity of Mo-Mo2C/g-C3N4 catalyst. Molybdenum rich molybdenum carbide (Mo-Mo2C) has recently been confirmed as a highly effective non-noble-metal cocatalyst to boost the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 for water splitting. However, the activity of Mo-Mo2C is still much lower than that of Pt noble metal based cocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production (PHE). This work reports a highly active cobalt (Co) doped Mo-Mo2C cocatalyst (Co(Mo-Mo2C)) for PHE. The hydrogen production rate of 2.0 wt.% optimal Co(Mo-Mo2C) loaded g-C3N4 (2.0 wt.% Co(Mo-Mo2C)/g-C3N4) photocatalyst can be as high as 11,291 μmol h−1 g−1, at 6.7% apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) at 420 nm, which is 1.4 times greater than that of 2.0 wt.% Pt/g-C3N4 photocatalyst. Catalyst characterizations have pointed out that Co doped Mo-Mo2C cocatalyst is able to efficiently suppress photo-generated charge recombination, thus improving the interfacial charge transfer rate. This research provides novel ideas and technical approaches for designing a noble-metal-free, efficient and environmentally friendly cocatalyst for photocatalytic H2 evolution via water reduction.