A Noble‐Metal‐Free CdS/Ni3S2@C Nanocomposite for Efficient Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalysis

Abstract Searching for highly efficient noble‐metal‐free visible‐light‐driven photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution has attracted much attention. Herein, a facile method for synthesis of a noble‐metal‐free CdS/Ni 3 S 2 @C nanocomposite by dispersing CdS quantum dots (≤5 nm) on urchin‐like Ni 3 S 2 coated by a 5‐nm‐thick carbon layer is reported. It can be used for highly efficient visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic H 2 production from H 2 O. The H 2 production rate on CdS/Ni 3 S 2 @C (1164.7 µmol h −1 ) is about 3.5 times higher than that on the noble‐metal‐based CdS/Pt (325.2 µmol h −1 ). The CdS–carbon and carbon–Ni 3 S 2 interfaces are favorable for charge separation and the improved visible light absorbance could be the origin for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of CdS/Ni 3 S 2 @C. This work provides a model system for rationally designing efficient noble‐metal‐free photocatalysts for visible‐light‐driven photocatalysis.