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2D Nanocomposite of g‐C 3 N 4 and TiN Embedded N‐Doped Graphene for Photoelectrochemical Reduction of Water Using Sunlight
Author(s) -
Shanker Golla Shiva,
Bhosale Reshma,
Ogale Satishchandra,
Nag Angshuman
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
advanced materials interfaces
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.671
H-Index - 65
ISSN - 2196-7350
DOI - 10.1002/admi.201801488
Subject(s) - materials science , tin , water splitting , nanocomposite , graphene , photocurrent , reversible hydrogen electrode , photocatalysis , electrode , electrolyte , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , catalysis , working electrode , chemistry , metallurgy , biochemistry
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a sustainable pathway for solar to hydrogen conversion. Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ) nanosheets have the suitable bandgap and band‐edge energies to act as a visible‐light photocatalyst for water splitting, but the fast recombination of photoexcited electron–hole pair limits the efficiency. Herein, N‐doped few‐layer graphene (NFG) dressed with titanium nitride (TiN) nanocrystals (TiN‐NFG) is introduced as an efficient co‐catalyst which improved the water reduction activity of g‐C 3 N 4 by 16 times. The 2D nanocomposite of g‐C 3 N 4 :TiN‐NFG has an extended interface for efficient separation of photoexcited electron–hole pair through electron transfer from g‐C 3 N 4 to TiN‐NFG. The metal‐like electronic structure of TiN in combination with good charge conducting capability of NFG reduces the charge transfer resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Both these aspects are responsible for the enhanced PEC activity leading to a photocurrent density of −196 µA cm −2 at 0.11 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode as a photocathode for the g‐C 3 N 4 :TiN‐NFG nanocomposite. The nanocomposite is stable, low cost (free from noble metals), and the extent of enhancement in the PEC efficiency for reduction reaction is remarkable compared to prior literature.