Premium
An Improved Metal‐to‐Ligand Charge Transfer Mechanism for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Author(s) -
Wang Sicong,
Shen Chao,
Xu Yanqi,
Zhong Yunhao,
Wang Chengyin,
Yang Shengyang,
Wang Guoxiu
Publication year - 2019
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.201901609
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , graphitic carbon nitride , photochemistry , materials science , visible spectrum , hydrogen production , carbon nitride , metal , water splitting , hydrogen , chemical engineering , chemistry , catalysis , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , engineering , metallurgy
Abstract It is of great significance to fabricate a full‐spectrum‐active photocatalysts for more efficient utilization of solar energy. An improved metal‐to‐ligand charge transfer (MLCT) mechanism is proposed for a photocatalyst based on graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ). UV/Vis spectroscopy indicates that the as‐prepared photocatalyst absorbs light at λ <1100 nm. The rather stable photocatalyst is found to be 26.1 times more active in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (868.9 μmol h −1 g −1 ) than bulk g‐C 3 N 4 (B‐CN) under visible light. The material exhibits high activity under near‐infrared (NIR) irradiation (49.1 μmol h −1 g −1 ). The mechanism of photocatalytic activity and stability are investigated by both experiment and theory. This proposed mechanism may have great potential for engineering renewable photocatalysts in the future.