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Formation of g‐C 3 N 4 Nanotubes towards Superior Photocatalysis Performance
Author(s) -
Jiang Zhixiang,
Zhang Xiao,
Chen HsuehShih,
Hu Xun,
Yang Ping
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201901038
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , melamine , graphitic carbon nitride , metal , water splitting , ion , nitride , transition metal , metal ions in aqueous solution , crystal structure , band gap , crystal (programming language) , crystallography , catalysis , nanotechnology , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , programming language , optoelectronics , layer (electronics) , computer science , metallurgy
Poor charge separation efficiency seriously limits the application of graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ) for water splitting. Herein, g‐C 3 N 4 nanotubes were created to enhance charge carrier separation for superior H 2 evolution via a thermal polymerizing reaction using melamine crystals prepared through a transitional metal derived re‐crystalline process. Melamine crystals were grown with help of transitional metal ions (Fe 3+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , and Mn 2+ ). As prepared crystals have regular shape with an average size of ∼20 μm. The growth of (002) facet was limited and another facets corresponding to (011), (210) and (311) promised. The tubular shape is firstly ascribed to the traces amount of transition metal ions in the crystal promise formation of tubular structure. Another key is that regular crystals with low surface energy slow down polycondensation reaction. The tubular g‐C 3 N 4 revealed superior photocatalysis performance. Sample Fe 3+ R‐650 CN prepared using Fe 3+ ions modified crystals exhibited enhanced absorbance at 500 nm and decreased band gap. Tubular morphology accelerated electron transfer along the axial direction. The sample revealed the highest photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 7538 μ mol h −1 g −1 , which is nearly 13.5 times high compared with g‐C 3 N 4 nanosheets prepared using similar conditions without transitional metal ions.