Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation from water by Ni(OH)2 loaded on Ni-doped δ-FeOOH nanoparticles obtained by one-step synthesis

Abstract

Ni(OH)2 loaded on Ni-doped δ-FeOOH photocatalysts were prepared by a simple and low-cost one-step precipitation method. The effect of Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles and Ni2+ doping on the photocatalytic hydrogen production rates by δ-FeOOH in aqueous suspension was investigated. The results showed that the photocatalytic H2-production activity of δ-FeOOH was significantly enhanced by doping with Ni2+ ions and by loading Ni(OH)2 on its surface. The maximum H2-production was obtained for the sample with 20 wt% Ni, which provided 5746 μmol h−1 g−1. This high photocatalytic H2-production is due to the combined effects of Ni2+ doping and Ni(OH)2 loaded on the δ-FeOOH surface. The Ni2+ doping increased the conductivity and charge transfer in δ-FeOOH, whereas the Ni(OH)2 improved the charge separation in the δ-FeOOH and, consequently, the photocatalytic H2-production activity.