Modification of g-C3N4 Photocatalyst with Flower-like ReS2 for Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Heterojunction strategy has proven to be an effective approach for overcoming the quick photoexcited charge carrier recombination of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and facilitating its photocatalytic performances. Bearing the merits of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) in mind, in this work, a novel flower-like ReS2 coupled with layered g-C3N4 was constructed via a facile hydrothermal route. The hybrid ReS2/g-C3N4 catalysts create excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution without any additional co-catalyst. Under visible-light irradiation, the optimized 3 wt % ReS2/g-C3N4 heterojunction exhibited a hydrogen evolution rate 8 times that of pristine g-C3N4, maintaining a stable heterojunction after multiple photocatalytic cycles. ReS2/g-C3N4 integrates the merits of both the configuration of a heterojunction and the formation of spatially conductive network, which effectively accelerate the transfer of photoinduced carrier. This work not only presents a marked ReS2/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalyst, but provides more possibility for expanding applications in electrocatalysis, photothermal catalysis and energy storage.