Improved charge separation of NiS nanoparticles modified defect-engineered black TiO2 hollow nanotubes for boosting solar-driven photocatalytic H2 evolution

摘要： NiS nanoparticles (NPs) modified black TiO2 hollow nanotubes (NBTNs) are successfully synthesized via surface hydrogenation and facile solvothermal method. The unique structure with intensified surface and interface characteristic endow NBTNs with more catalytic sites, and increase charge carrier separation efficiency with a extended charge lifetime, overwhelmingly promoting its photocatalytic performance. The resultant NBTNs possess a relatively high surface area and pore size of ~89 m2 g-1 and ~9.8 nm, respectively. The resultants NBTNs exhibit an excellent solar-driven photocatalytic hydrogen rate (3.17 mmol h-1 g-1), which almost as high as that of Pt as cocatalyst, in which the apparent quantum (AQE) yield of 5.4 % (420 nm) is recorded for the NBTNs sample. Moreover, the turnover number (TON) can be up to 116000 within 48 h. And the turnover frequency (TOF) is 2400 for NiS. This novel strategy could provide a better understanding of cocatalyst photocatalytic mechanism, and a scheme simultaneously regulating the morphology and structure of photocatalyst for promoting H2 generation.