The enhanced photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4-LaFeO3 for the water reduction reaction through a mediator free Z-scheme mechanism

Herein, we disclosed the g-C3N4/LaFeO3 nanocomposite photocatatalyst, a mediator-free direct Z-scheme photocatalytic system, prepared using a mechanical mixing method with reliable interfacial interactions. The nanocomposite formation was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optical properties of the nanohybrids were also characterized using UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results clearly indicated that the g-C3N4/LaFeO3 nanocomposite was effectively fabricated, with reliable interfacial interactions and a good heterojunction interaction between g-C3N4 and LaFeO3, which can considerably enhance the photocatalytic activity as compared to pristine g-C3N4 and LaFeO3. The high HER (1152 mu mol h(-1) g(-1)) was also confirmed by the PL spectra, Mott-Schottky plot, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and solid-solid interfacial interactions.