0D CoP cocatalyst/ 2D g‐C 3 N 4 nanosheets: An efficient photocatalyst for promoting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract In this work, cobalt phosphide (CoP) nanoparticles were successfully decorated on an ultrathin g‐C 3 N 4 nanosheet photocatalysts by in situ chemical deposition. The built‐in electric field formed by heterojunction interface of the CoP/g‐C 3 N 4 composite semiconductor can accelerate the transmission and separation of photogenerated charge‐hole pairs and effectively improve the photocatalytic performance. TEM, HRTEM, XPS, and SPV analysis showed that CoP/g‐C 3 N 4 formed a stable heterogeneous interface and effectively enhanced photogenerated electron‐hole separation. UV‐vis DRS analysis showed that the composite had enhanced visible light absorption than pure g‐C 3 N 4 and was a visible light driven photocatalyst. In this process, NaH 2 PO 2 and CoCl 2 are used as the source of P and Co, and typical preparation of CoP can be completed within 3 hours. Under visible light irradiation, the optimal H 2 evolution rate of 3.0 mol% CoP/g‐C 3 N 4 is about 15.1 μmol h −1 . The photocatalytic activity and stability of the CoP/g‐C 3 N 4 materials were evaluated by photocatalytic decomposition of water. The intrinsic relationship between the microstructure of the composite catalyst and the photocatalytic performance was analyzed to reveal the photocatalytic reaction mechanism.