2024-12-2920230925-838810.1016/j.jallcom.2023.1697532-s2.0-85151820025https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.169753https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14288/23562The design of semiconductor-based heterojunctions is an effective strategy to build highly active photo-catalyst systems. In this study, tungsten disulfide (WS2) modified graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) hetero-junction (gCN/WS2) is incorporated with Co and Ni (gCN/WS2-Co and gCN/WS2-Ni) to enhance the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of gCN/WS2 via performing a chemical reduction method and characterized by advanced analytical techniques. The photocatalytic HER activities of gCN, gCN/ WS2, gCN/WS2-Ni and gCN/WS2-Co were measured as 0.126, 0.221, 0.237 and 0.249 mmol g-1h-1, respec-tively, under the visible light irradiation. The improvement of photocatalytic activity and stability of gCN/ WS2-Ni and gCN/WS2-Co nanocomposites could be attributed to the 2D/2D heterojunction structure, ex-tended light harvesting ability, increased electron-hole lifetime and decreased recombination rate of the charge carriers. Moreover, mechanistic studies revealed that a S-scheme heterojunction is attributed to the enhanced photocatalytic HER by the gCN/WS2-Ni and gCN/WS2-Co photocatalysts, which provides pro-moted efficiency by photocarrier transfer and separation.ChemistryPhysicalMaterials scienceMultidisciplinaryMetallurgyMetallurgical engineeringJournal article1873-4669982152300001Q141705