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Metal‐Free Photocatalytic Graphitic Carbon Nitride on p‐Type Chalcopyrite as a Composite Photocathode for Light‐Induced Hydrogen Evolution
Author(s) -
Yang Florent,
Lublow Michael,
Orthmann Steven,
Merschjann Christoph,
Tyborski Tobias,
Rusu Marin,
Kubala Sven,
Thomas Arne,
Arrigo Rosa,
Hävecker Michael,
SchedelNiedrig Thomas
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201100691
Subject(s) - graphitic carbon nitride , photocathode , materials science , carbon nitride , thin film , water splitting , photocatalysis , nitride , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , photoelectrochemistry , chemical engineering , hydrogen , nanotechnology , chemistry , electrochemistry , electrode , catalysis , engineering , electron , biochemistry , physics , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , quantum mechanics
Recently, it has been shown that an abundant material, polymeric carbon nitride, can produce hydrogen from water under visible‐light irradiation in the presence of a sacrificial donor. We present herein the preparation and characterization of graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ) films on p‐type semiconducting CuGaSe 2 chalcopyrite thin‐film substrates by thermal condensation of a dicyandiamide precursor under inert‐gas conditions. Structural and surface morphological studies of the carbon nitride films suggest a high porosity of g‐C 3 N 4 thin films consisting of a network of nanocrystallites. Photoelectrochemical investigations show light‐induced hydrogen evolution upon cathodic polarization for a wide range of proton concentrations in the aqueous electrolyte. Additionally, synchrotron radiation‐based photoelectron spectroscopy has been applied to study the surface/near‐surface chemical composition of the utilized g‐C 3 N 4 film photocathodes. For the first time, it has been shown that g‐C 3 N 4 films coated on p‐type CuGaSe 2 thin films can be successfully applied as new photoelectrochemical composite photocathodes for light‐induced hydrogen evolution.