Novel PtPd alloy nanoparticle-decorated g-C3N4 nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution under visible light irradiation

PtPd bimetallic alloy nanoparticle (NP)-modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheet photocatalysts were synthesized via chemical deposition precipitation. Characterization of the photocatalytic H-2 evolution of the g-C3N4 nanosheets shows that it was significantly enhanced when PtPd alloy NPs were introduced as a co-catalyst. The 0.2 wt% PtPd/g-C3N4 composite photocatalyst gave a maximum H-2 production rate of 1600.8 mu mol g(-1) h(-1). Furthermore, when K2HPO4 was added to the reaction system, the H-2 production rate increased to 2885.0 mu mol g(-1) h(-1). The PtPd/g-C3N4 photocatalyst showed satisfactory photocatalytic stability and was able to maintain most of its photocatalytic activity after four experimental photocatalytic cycles. In addition, a possible mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity was proposed and verified by various photoelectric techniques. These results demonstrate that the synergistic effect between PtPd and g-C3N4 helps to greatly improve the photocatalytic activity of the composite photocatalyst. (C) 2019, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.