MoP₄ Nanoparticles as a Novel and Efficient Cocatalyst for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

In this work, MoP₄ nanoparticles were in situ loaded onto CdS nanorods (CdS NRs) via vapor-solid phase synthesis and the composite of MoP₄/CdS proved to be active for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible-light irradiation, in which MoP₄ nanoparticles can work as a novel and efficient cocatalyst. MoP₄/CdS can achieve a much higher hydrogen evolution rate of 494.5 μmol h⁻¹ than that of the pristine CdS NRs (22.6 times), and even higher than of the noble metal Pt (2.0 %) loaded on CdS NRs, indicating that MoP₄ nanoparticles can replace noble metals as a potential cocatalyst with ultra-high catalytic activity. Based on the structural and photoelectrical characterization results, the catalytic mechanism of MoP₄/CdS was proposed. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of MoP₄/CdS is attributed to the promoted charge separation, low hydrogen evolution over-potential, a long average lifetime for photogenerated carriers and enhanced abilities to inhibit electron-hole pair recombination. In the field, this work provides guidance for the design and preparation of novel and efficient cocatalyst of phosphide.