4.8 Article

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and bacterial inactivation utilizing sonochemical-synthesized g-C3N4/red phosphorus hybrid nanosheets as a wide-spectral-responsive photocatalyst: The role of type I band alignment

Journal

APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
Volume 238, Issue -, Pages 126-135

Publisher

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2018.07.004

Keywords

Photocatalytic activity; Sonochemical synthesis; g-C3N4; Red phosphorus; Type I heterojunction

Funding

  1. National Natural Science Foundation of China [41425015, 21607028, 41573086]
  2. Research Grant Council of Hong Kong SAR Government [T23-407/13-N]
  3. CAS/SAFER International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams of Chinese Academy of Sciences [2015HSC-UE004]

Ask authors/readers for more resources

Efficient sunlight harvesting is imperative in the design of ideal photocatalysts for both environmental and energy applications. In this study, a wide-spectral-responsive photocatalyst composited of g-C3N4/red P (CNP) hybrid nanosheets was developed by a one-step green sonochemical method at room temperature. Ultrasound irradiation causes exfoliation of the layered g-C3N4, downsizing the red P particles and anchoring them onto the g-C3N4 nanosheets to form intimate CNP heterojunctions. As a dual active center photocatalyst, the CNP heterostructures exhibit significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity both for H-2 evolution and bacterial inactivation under visible light irradiation. In addition, the responsive wavelength of this new-fabricated photo catalyst can be extended to 700 nm. The crucial role of type I band alignment between g-C3N4 and red P is illuminated to facilitate the interface charge separation and extend the light response by efficiently utilizing the photogenerated e(-) excited from both g-C3N4 and red P. Moreover, a direct h(+) oxidation mechanism rather than a e- reduction mechanism is also found for bacterial inactivation under anaerobic conditions. This work provides a general strategy to fabricate novel metal-free heterostructures with wide-spectral-responsive photocatalytic activity by taking advantage of the type I band alignment combined with the narrow band gap feature of elemental red P.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.8
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available