Bio-inspired Z-scheme g-C₃N₄/Ag₂CrO₄ for efficient visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen generation.

ABSTRACT: Due to low charge separation efficiency and poor stability, it is usually difficult for single-component photocatalysts such as graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and silver chromate (Ag₂CrO₄) to fulfill photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiently. Z-scheme charge transport mechanism that mimics the photosynthesis in nature is an effective way to solve the above problems. Inspired by photosynthesis, we report Ag₂CrO₄ nanoparticles-decorated g-C₃N₄ nanosheet as an efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with methanol as sacrificial agent. The formation of Z-scheme g-C₃N₄/Ag₂CrO₄ nanosheets photocatalysts could inhibit the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, promote the generation of hydrogen by photosplitting of water. The experiment results indicate that g-C₃N₄/Ag₂CrO₄ nanocomposites present enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability in the H₂ evolution of water splitting. And the nanocomposites g-C₃N₄/Ag₂CrO₄(23.1%) show the 14 times HER efficiency compared to that of bare g-C₃N₄.

SUBMITTER: Che Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6220202 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature