A novel noble-metal-free MoC-InS heterojunction photocatalyst with efficient charge separation for enhanced photocatalytic H evolution under visible light.

Currently, designing novel noble-metal-free photocatalysts with efficient carriers migration and catalytically active sites have been a researching hotspot in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. In this paper, a novel noble-metal-free MoC-InS heterojunction was synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. Morphology characterization revealed InS was attached to MoC. Electrochemical results showed MoC improved the interface conductivity, and promoted the transportation of photogenerated carriers. Under visible light, the optimal MoC-InS composite achieved a H generation rate of 535.58 μmol h g, which was 175.6 and 25.8 times higher than pristine InS (3.05 μmol h g) and InS-1% Pt (20.73 μmol h g). In addition, a reasonable mechanism of the elevated photocatalytic activity was also discussed. This study demonstrates commercial MoC has an important effect of separating carriers and replacing Pt as co-catalyst in heterojunctions. This research also provides a method to design and synthesize new noble-metal-free photocatalysts for excellent hydrogen production activity.