A Hydrogen‐Deficient Nickel–Cobalt Double Hydroxide for Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting

Abstract

Abstract Developing highly efficient and low‐cost photocatalysts for overall water splitting has long been a pursuit for converting solar power into clean hydrogen energy. Herein, we demonstrate that a nonstoichiometric nickel–cobalt double hydroxide can achieve overall water splitting by itself upon solar light irradiation, avoiding the consumption of noble‐metal co‐catalysts. We employed an intensive laser to ablate a NiCo alloy target immersed in alkaline solution, and produced so‐called L‐NiCo nanosheets with a nonstoichiometric composition and O 2− /Co 3+ ions exposed on the surface. The nonstoichiometric composition broadens the band gap, while O 2− and Co 3+ ions boost hydrogen and oxygen evolution, respectively. As such, the photocatalyst achieves a H 2 evolution rate of 1.7 μmol h −1 under AM 1.5G sunlight irradiation and an apparent quantum yield (AQE) of 1.38 % at 380 nm.