10Novel two-dimensional (2D) graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) photocatalysts decorated with PtCo 11 bimetallic alloy nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared via an in-situ chemical deposition method. The 12 physical and chemical properties of the as-prepared PtCo/g-C 3 N 4 samples were characterized by 13 X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), transmission 14 electron microscope (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and surface photovoltage 15 spectroscopy (SPV). The photocatalytic H 2 evolution experiments indicate that the PtCo alloy 16 co-catalyst can effectively promote the separation efficiency of photo-generated charge carriers in 17 g-C 3 N 4 , and consequently enhance the H 2 evolution activity. The 1.0 wt% PtCo/g-C 3 N 4 nanosheet 18 catalyst shows the highest catalytic activity, and corresponding H 2 evolution rate is 960 µmol·h -1 ·g -1 , 19 which are enhanced by 2.9 times compared with that of pristine bulk Pt/g-C 3 N 4 (330 µmol·h -1 ·g -1 ) 20 under visible light irradiation. The photocatalyst can keep stable and maintain catalytic activity after 21 irradiated for 28 h. A possible photocatalytic mechanism of PtCo NPs on the enhancement of visible 22 light performance is proposed to guide further improvement for other desirable functional materials.

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