Interface engineered 2D/2D Ni(OH)₂/Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ nanocomposites with higher charge transfer towards improving photocatalytic activity

Exploring semiconductor-based photocatalysis toward reaching solar energy conversion was an ideal strategy. Here, Ni(OH)₂ was used an effective co-catalyst instead of noble metal to construct a novel two dimensional 2D/2D Ni(OH)₂/Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ composites with interfacial interaction between Ni(OH)₂ and Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂. The layer Ni(OH)₂/Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ composites showed higher photocatalytic activity as compared to pure samples, which was attributed to the interfacial interaction to promote the electron-holes separation. Thus, this work provided a novel insight into design 2D/2D nanocomposites and proved Ni(OH)₂ could excellently act as the effective co-catalyst instead of noble metal to enhance photocatalytic activity.