LAUSR

Abstract An organic-inorganic hybrid material GQDs/NiCo2S4 based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) was prepared and applied in the photocatalytic H2 evolution reaction (HER). Based on the NiCo2S4 with a unique hollow spherical structure, the H2 evolution rate of hybrid material GQDs/NiCo2S4-5 with optimal activity reaches 118.14 ​μmol ​h−1 under visible light in EY sensitized system. The electron transport mechanism of GQDs was studied by Mott-Schottky and UV–vis DRS combined with bandgap calculation. The GQDs with low LUMO are sensitizer under visible light excitation. With the sensitization of GQDs, the excited electrons on GQDs are transferred to the surface of NiCo2S4 more rapidly, and the catalytic active sites on the surface of the bimetallic sulfide are activated more effectively while promoting the separation of photogenerated carriers.