Novel framework g-C3N4 film as efficient photoanode for photoelectrochemical water splitting

We firstly report the fabrication of the g-C3N4 film with novel framework structure by thermal vapor liquid-polymerization method which grows directly on FTO glass substrate as photoanode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting to produce hydrogen. The specific growth process for the framework structure of the g-C3N4 film has been discussed in detail. The outstanding PEC performance with an improved photocurrent density of the framework g-C3N4 film is accessed by 89 mu A/cm(2) at 1.1 V (vs. RHE), which is higher than that of the g-C3N4 film prepared from g-C3N4 powder. The remarkable PEC performance benefits from the considerable factors as following: (i) the uniformity of film grown on FTO substrate; (ii) the excellent light harvesting ability; (iii) the better optical performance; (iv) the reduced photogenerated electron-hole pairs recombination rate. In addition, this method is extremely facile to prepare g-C3N4 film for water splitting into H-2. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.