Enhanced hydrogen production from water on Pt/g-C3N4 by room temperature electron reduction

An efficient Pt/g-C3N4 photocatalyst was prepared via glow discharge plasma reduction. Based on the hydrogen evolution from water splitting under visible light irradiation, the Pt/g-C3N4 obtained through plasma reduction exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance with a H-2 evolution rate of 33.9 mu mol/h. Among the samples obtained through plasma reduction under different environments, the Pt/g-C3N4 photocatalyst with Pt reduced in NaOH alkaline environment exhibited a markedly increased H-2 evolution rate of 40 mu mol/h. The enhanced photocatalytic performance could be attributed to plasma reduction controlling the size of Pt particles and the alkaline environment promoting Pt reduction.