Non-Noble Metal Ni/NiOx@C Co-Catalyst Modified ZnIn2S4 for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Photocatalytic hydrogen production has emerged as one of the most promising approaches for addressing the global energy crisis by enabling the sustainable conversion of solar energy into clean hydrogen fuel. However, its practical application is still hindered by the rapid recombination of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, which severely limits photocatalytic efficiency. Although noble-metal co-catalysts have been demonstrated to markedly promote charge separation and accelerate surface reaction kinetics, their widespread application remains constrained by their high cost and limited availability. In this study, a non-noble Ni/NiOx@C co-catalyst was fabricated and employed to modify ZnIn2S4 (ZIS) for photocatalytic hydrogen production. The optimized sample (15Ni/NiOx@C/ZIS) exhibits a hydrogen production rate of 4140.03 μmol/g/h, 18.16 times higher than that of pristine ZIS. This enhancement is primarily attributed to the improved separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers facilitated by the Ni/NiOx@C co-catalyst. Notably, the hydrogen evolution rate of 15Ni/NiOx@C/ZIS is 1.33 times higher than that of ZIS/3%Pt, suggesting that Ni/NiOx@C has great potential as a substitute for noble metal Pt. Various characterization results demonstrate that 15Ni/NiOx@C/ZIS exhibits superior photocatalytic performance, ascribed to its enhanced light absorption capability, and efficient separation of photogenerated carriers. Additionally, cycling tests and XRD analysis confirm the excellent stability of 15Ni/NiOx@C/ZIS, indicating its potential for practical applications. This work provides a valuable reference for the rational design and development of efficient and cost-effective non-noble co-catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production.