Au/MoS2/Ti3C2 composite catalyst for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Au/MoS2/Ti3C2 ternary composite photocatalysts were prepared by a noble metal deposition method and hydrothermal method. Through photocatalytic hydrogen evolution experiments, the photocatalytic activities of the composite catalysts with different Au particle loadings were studied. When the loading amount of Au particles is 5% (A5), the product has the largest specific surface area and excellent optical properties, exhibiting a high photocatalytic hydrogen evolution efficiency of 12000 mu mol g(-1) h(-1) with good cycling stability. The high catalytic activity is mainly due to the fact that nano-Au particles adsorbed on the MoS2/Ti3C2 heterostructures have a surface plasmon resonance effect, which induces the generation of photogenerated electrons. The electrons on the nano-Au particles are excited and transferred to MoS2 to generate H-2 during the catalytic reduction.