RGO-MoS₂ Supported NiCo₂O₄ Catalyst toward Solar Water Splitting and Dye Degradation

Formation of the NiCo₂O₄ (NCO) nanoparticle with the simultaneous reduction of GO and growth of MoS₂ by a two step hydrothermal process results in a 2D RGO-MoS₂ (R-MoS₂) cocatalyst layer with intimate interfacial contact with NCO. The phase purity, chemical coupling and morphology of the synthesized materials are established through X-ray diffraction, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies. The ternary composite, RGO-MoS₂-NiCo₂O₄ (RM-NCO), shows excellent electrocatalytic performance toward solar driven water splitting with 3.08% solar to hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency, photocurrent density of 5.36 mA cm^-2, injection efficiency of 97% at 1 V (vs Ag/AgCl) and long-term stability. The photo degradation (95%) of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation is obtained in 90 min by the ternary composite (RM-NCO). The improved performance of the ternary composite, RM-NCO, over bare NCO and MoS₂, toward photocatalytic activity is achieved through the dual charge transfer pathway between interfacial layer of NCO and MoS₂ to RGO, which leads to generation of more photoinduced charge carriers and suppression of electron-hole recombination process.