LED white-light-driven photocatalysis for effective lignocellulose reforming to co-produce hydrogen and value-added chemicals via Zn2/O@IP-g-CN

Synchronous photocatalytic water splitting and the reforming of a biomass-derived feedstock to generate hydrogen and high-value-added chemicals make full utilization of the biomass-water-splitting redox reaction; however, limited successes in this regard have been reported. Herein, incompletely polymerized graphitic carbon nitride co-doped with zinc/oxygen atoms (Zn2/O@IP-g-CN) was prepared via a step-by-step low-temperature calcination process with the assistance of melamine and zinc phthalocyanine, which successfully resulted in simultaneous photocatalytic water splitting and the reforming of biomass-derived monosaccharides to produce hydrogen (11436.7 mu mol g 1 h 1) and lactic acid (92.6 %), respectively. Zn2/O@IP-g-CN exhibits a fast separation/migration rate and low resistance compared to those of pure CN, resulting in Zn2/O@IP-g-CN showing enhanced photocatalytic activity. The hydrogen release rate of 86.8 % and lactic acid yield of 89.0 % were retained compared to initial values when Zn2/O@IP-g-CN was reused in 5th cycles. Poisoning experiments indicated that 1O2, center dot O2-, center dot OH, and h+ were all beneficial for lactic acid production.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates the simultaneous photocatalytic water splitting and reforming of biomass-derived feedstock using co-doped graphitic carbon nitride. The resulting material showed enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability, leading to high yields of hydrogen and lactic acid.