Hetero-phase MoC-Mo2C nanoparticles for enhanced photocatalytic H2-production activity of TiO2

Hexagonal molybdenum carbide (Mo 2 C) as an effective non-noble cocatalyst is intensively researched in the photocatalytic H 2 -evolution field owing to its Pt-like H + -adsorption ability and good conductivity. However, hexagonal Mo 2 C-modified photocatalysts possess a limited H 2 -evolution rate because of the weak H-desorption ability. To further improve the activity, cubic MoC was introduced into Mo 2 C to form the carbon-modified MoC-Mo 2 C nanoparticles (MoC-Mo 2 C@C) by a calcination method. The resultant MoC-Mo 2 C@C (ca. 5 nm) was eventually coupled with TiO 2 to acquire high-efficiency TiO 2 /MoC-Mo 2 C@C by electrostatic self-assembly. The highest H2-generation rate of TiO 2 /MoC-Mo 2 C@C reached of 918 μmol·h−1·g−1, which was 91.8, 2.7, and 1.5 times than that of the TiO 2 , TiO 2 /MoC@C, and TiO 2 /Mo 2 C@C, respectively. The enhanced rate of TiO 2 attributes to the carbon layer as cocatalyst to transmit electrons and the hetero-phase MoC-Mo 2 C as H 2 -generation active sites to boost H 2 -evolution reaction. This research offers a novel insight to design photocatalytic materials for energy applications.