Journal
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
Volume 358, Issue -, Pages 287-295Publisher
ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.08.089
Keywords
Photocatalysis; Hydrogen production; Carbon fibers; Carbon nitride; Composite
Categories
Funding
- Major Research Plan of the National Natural Science Foundation of China [91333207]
- National Key Scientific Instrument and Equipment Development Project of China [61427901]
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H-2 production from photocatalytic water splitting is an alternative way to develop reproducible energy. As one of the promising visible-light photocatalysts, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) endures fast recombination of photoinduced charges, which hinders its wide application for water splitting. To this end, novel carbon fiber (CF) and g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts were prepared through a facile two-step approach involving electrospinning and a subsequent calcination process. The incorporation of CF forms intimate interaction with g-C3N4, significantly enhancing the photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of the latter under visible light irradiation lambda >= 420 nm), reaching a maximal value of 1080 mu mol h(-1) g(-1) which is about 4.6 times higher than that of pure g-C3N4. The improved photocatalytic activity in the CF/g-C3N4 composites are mainly attributed to the synergic effects of improved separation of electron-hole pairs through efficient electron transfer, increased specific surface area and pore volume, and enhanced visible light absorption. Moreover, a possible photocatalytic mechanism is proposed and verified by photoluminescene, photocurrent and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This study contributes to the further promising application of g-C3N4 for H-2 production. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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