Regulating Graphitic Carbon Nitride/Cocatalyst by an Amorphous MoS₂ Conformal Multifunctional Intermediate Layer for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Cocatalyst engineering and interface engineering are two highly accredited strategies for improving photocatalytic activity. However, the combination of these two strategies is still challenging due to the difficulties in selecting suitable cocatalysts and consciously constructing photocatalyst/cocatalyst interfaces. The design of an intermediate layer in a photocatalyst/cocatalyst is possible for regulating the combination of these two strategies. Here, we report the synthesis of a CN/A-MoS2/Pt photocatalyst using amorphous MoS2 (A-MoS2) as the conformal multifunctional intermediate layer between graphitic carbon nitride (CN) and Pt by in situ photodeposition. CN/A-MoS2/Pt has major synthetic merits of a conformal chemically bonded interface and low overpotential for the hydrogen evolution reaction by improving interface charge transfer and photochemical reaction kinetics. Impressively, when compared to CN, it exhibits a more than 83-fold visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution rate. This work demonstrates the great potential of photocatalysts regulated by a cocatalyst and interface engineering for solar-to-fuel conversion.