Zinc phthalocyanine sensitized g-C3N4 photocatalyst for exceptional photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and pollutant degradation

Here in this manuscript, the high charge conductivity and exceptionally wide range soalr light absorption of metal phthalocyanines were followed for boosted photocatalysis. Graphitic carbon nitride, g-C3N4 (CN) was thermally prepared from melamine and loaded with appropriate amount of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) to form ZPCN nanocomposites. The fabricated samples were used to liberate hydrogen from water and decompose 2,4-dichlorphenol (2,4-DCP) pollutant under visible-light irradiation. The optimized nanocomposite (0.5ZPCN) purchased highly accelerated photocatalysis and liberated 90 mu mol H-2 in 1 h in the presence of methanol as sacrificial agent. The same nanocomposite also showed 85% decomposition efficiency for the degradation of 2,4-DCP pollutant. These enhanced catalytic activity of g-C3N4 functionalized with ZnPc are attributed to the exceptional visible light absorption and effective generation of super oxide ions and holes formed after charge transfer between g-C3N4 and ZnPc as confirmed from photoluminescence, fluorescent and electrochemical characterization of the nanophotocatalysts. The charge/radical trapping experiments confirmed that super oxide anions were the main oxidizing agents in the decomposition of 2,4-DCP. (c) 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

In this study, the high charge conductivity and wide range solar light absorption of metal phthalocyanines were utilized for enhanced photocatalysis. Graphitic carbon nitride was synthesized from melamine and loaded with zinc phthalocyanine to form ZPCN nanocomposites. These nanocomposites demonstrated exceptional catalytic activity in liberating hydrogen and decomposing a pollutant under visible-light irradiation, which is attributed to the efficient generation of superoxide ions and holes through charge transfer between g-C3N4 and ZnPc.