NiSe2/Mn0.3Cd0.7S Schottky junction catalyst for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light

Nanorod-like NiSe 2 /Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S (NiSe 2 /MCS) Schottky junction photocatalysts were fabricated via a two-step solvothermal approach. The NiSe 2 nanoparticles were uniformly precipitated on the surface of the Mn 0.3 Cd 0.7 S (MCS) nanorods. The Schottky junctions were formed at the interface region of the MCS nanorods and the NiSe 2 nanoparticles, strengthening the visible-light absorption intensity and accelerating the separation of photoinduced electron–hole pairs. The resulting built-in electric field prevents the photo-excited electrons from migrating back to MCS and reduces the charge carrier recombination, thus, improving the photocatalytic hydrogen production performance. When the mass ratio of NiSe 2 to MCS is 10 wt%, the hydrogen production rate of 10 mg NiSe 2 /MCS reaches up to 687 μmol·h −1 at the temperature of 15°C, which is 3.3 times that of the unmodified MCS. The solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency of 10 wt% NiSe 2 /MCS is about 0.95%. Graphical abstract