Enhancing the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of hybrid perovskite via coupling molybdenum phosphide cocatalyst

Abstract

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskites like methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) have received extensive attention in solar energy conversion due to their superb optoelectronic properties. However, the serious charge recombination at the nanoscale domain and the lack of catalytic sites on the perovskite's surface seriously limit their photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activities. Taking MAPbI₃ as a typical example, we show that coupling amorphous molybdenum phosphide (MoP) cocatalyst with MAPbI₃ can significantly enhance the photocatalytic H₂ evolution performance of MAPbI₃. The MoP coupling can accelerate the electron extraction from MAPbI₃ and promote the hydrogen evolution reaction catalysis. Consequently, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of MoP/MAPbI₃ is ca. 97 times higher than that of bare MAPbI₃. Moreover, the MoP/MAPbI₃ exhibits good stability during cycling tests. This work demonstrates the possibility of employing amorphous MoP as a non-noble metal-based cocatalyst in a hybrid perovskite-based photocatalytic hydrogen production reaction.

Graphical abstract

Methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI₃) loaded with molybdenum phosphide (MoP) cocatalyst demonstrates 97 times higher photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity than bare MAPbI₃ from HI splitting reaction under visible light irradiation.