0D/2D CoN/g-C3N4 Composites: Structure and Photocatalytic Performance for Hydrogen Production

doi:10.15541/jim20210806

Abstract

Abstract:

In the photocatalytic hydrogen production reaction, the introduction of cocatalyst to promote the rapid transfer of photogenerated electrons is an effective way to improve the photocatalytic activity. At present, the most efficient cocatalysts are mainly precious metals, greatly restricting the use of this method. In this study, influence of the close interface between non-noble metal cocatalyst CoN and g-C₃N₄ 0D/2D on the performance of photocatalytic hydrogen production was explored. The results showed that the support of non-noble metal cocatalyst CoN can effectively improve the photocatalytic hydrogen production of 2D g-C₃N₄, and the support amount also has an positive effect on its activity. The compact 0D/2D interface is favorable for the rapid transmission of photogenerated electrons. Photocatalytic efficiency of 10% CoN/2D g-C₃N₄ composite reached 403.6 μmol·g^-1·h^-1, 20 times of that of 2D g-C₃N₄ monomer, which was comparable to that of noble metal cocatalyst. As a hydrogen evolution cocatalyst, loaded CoN can significantly promote the charge transfer process, thus greatly improving the activity of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution.

Key words: non-noble metal, CoN, cocatalyst, photocatalysis, hydrogen production

CLC Number:

TQ174

CHEN Hanxiang, ZHOU Min, MO Zhao, YI Jianjian, LI Huaming, XU Hui. 0D/2D CoN/g-C₃N₄ Composites: Structure and Photocatalytic Performance for Hydrogen Production[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2022, 37(9): 1001-1008.

Figures/Tables 8

Fig. 1 (a) XRD patterns of 2D g-C3N4, and 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4 samples, and CoN, (b) FT-IR spectra of 2D g-C3N4, and CoN/2D g-C3N4 samples, (c) UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra of 2D g-C3N4, and CoN/2D g-C3N4 samples, and CoN, (d) N2 adsorption-desorption isomers of 2D g-C3N4 and 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4 Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 2 SEM images of (a) 2D g-C3N4, (b) CoN and (c) 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4, and (d, e) TEM images and (f) HR-TEM image of 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4

Fig. 3 (a) Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with photocatalysts under visible light irradiation, and (b) hydrogen evolution stability test of 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4 under visible light irradiation (10% TEOA as sacrificial agent, 10 mg catalyst usage, xenon lamp as light source, λ>400 nm) Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 4 (a) Steady-state PL spectra excited at 384 nm, (b) photocurrent-time dependence, (c) electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) of 2D g-C3N4 and 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4, and (d) Motschottky (MS) curves of 2D g-C3N4 and 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4 Colorful figures are available on website

Fig. 5 ESR spectra of (a, c) DMPO-·O2- and (b, d) ·OH O2- and (b, d) ·OH (a, b) under visible-light irradiation and (c, d) without light irradiation of the 2D g-C3N4 and 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4 Colorful figures are available on website

Table S1 Different types of strategies for g-C3N4 and their hydrogen evolution performance

Photocatalyst	Type of strategy	HER performance /(μmol·g^-1·h^-1)	Ref.
CoN/2D g-C₃N₄	Nanosheets Nanostructure	403.6	This work
Melem Oligomer	Functional group	90	[6]
MoS₂/g-C₃N₄	Cocatalyst	7.5	[7]
BP/g-C₃N₄	Cocatalyst	43	[8]
MoSe₂/g-C₃N₄	Cocatalyst	7.5	[9]
p-n junction of g-C₃N₄	Type II	140	[10]
g-C₃N₄-NaI-WO₃	Z-scheme	36	[11]
W₁₈O₄₉/g-C₃N₄	Plasmonic effect	4.8	[12]

Fig. S1 (a) SEM image of 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4, (b-d) EDS elemental mappings from C, N and Co corresponding to 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4

Fig. S2 (a) XPS survey spectra of 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4 and 2D g-C3N4, (b) Co2p XPS spectra of CoN and 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4, (c) C1s and (d) N1s XPS spectra of 2D g-C3N4 and 10% CoN/2D g-C3N4

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0D/2D CoN/g-C₃N₄ Composites: Structure and Photocatalytic Performance for Hydrogen Production

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