A size tunable bimetallic nickel-zinc nitride as a multi-functional co-catalyst on nitrogen doped titania boosts solar energy conversion.

To enable high-efficiency solar energy conversion, rational design and preparation of low cost and stable semiconductor photocatalysts with associated co-catalysts are desirable. However preparation of efficient catalytic systems remains a challenge. Here, N-doped TiO2/ternary nickel-zinc nitride (N–TiO2–Ni3ZnN) nanocomposites have been shown to be a multi-functional catalyst for photocatalytic reactions. The particle size of Ni3ZnN can be readily tuned using N–TiO2 nanospheres as the active support. Due to its high conductivity and Pt-like properties, Ni3ZnN promotes charge separation and transfer, as well as reaction kinetics. The material shows co-catalytic performance relevant for multiple reactions, demonstrating its multifunctionality. Density functional theory (DFT) based calculations confirm the intrinsic metallic properties of Ni3ZnN. N–TiO2–Ni3ZnN exhibits evidently improved photocatalytic performances as compared to N–TiO2 under visible light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]