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Exceptional Visible‐Light‐Driven Cocatalyst‐Free Photocatalytic Activity of g‐C 3 N 4 by Well Designed Nanocomposites with Plasmonic Au and SnO 2
Author(s) -
Zada Amir,
Humayun Muhammad,
Raziq Fazal,
Zhang Xuliang,
Qu Yang,
Bai Linlu,
Qin Chuanli,
Jing Liqiang,
Fu Honggang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201601190
Subject(s) - materials science , photocatalysis , photocurrent , nanocomposite , photochemistry , visible spectrum , plasmon , spectral line , band gap , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , catalysis , chemistry , organic chemistry , physics , astronomy
In this work, plasmonic Au/SnO 2 /g‐C 3 N 4 (Au/SO/CN) nanocomposites have been successfully synthesized and applied in the H 2 evolution as photocatalysts, which exhibit superior photocatalytic activities and favorable stability without any cocatalyst under visible‐light irradiation. The amount‐optimized 2Au/6SO/CN nanocomposite capable of producing approximately 770 μmol g −1 h −1 H 2 gas under λ > 400 nm light illumination far surpasses the H 2 gas output of SO/CN (130 μmol g −1 ), Au/CN (112 μmol g −1 h −1 ), and CN (11 μmol g −1 h −1 ) as a contrast. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of 2Au/6SO/CN maintains unchanged for 5 runs in 5 h. The enhanced photoactivity for H 2 evolution is attributed to the prominently promoted photogenerated charge separation via the excited electron transfer from plasmonic Au (≈520 nm) and CN (470 nm > λ > 400 nm) to SO, as indicated by the surface photovoltage spectra, photoelectrochemical I – V curves, electrochemical impedance spectra, examination of formed hydroxyl radicals, and photocurrent action spectra. Moreover, the Kelvin probe test indicates that the newly aligned conduction band of SO in the fabricated 2Au/6SO/CN is indispensable to assist developing a proper energy platform for the photocatalytic H 2 evolution. This work distinctly provides a feasible strategy to synthesize highly efficient plasmonic‐assisted CN‐based photocatalysts utilized for solar fuel production.