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Fabrication of a ternary carbon dots/CoO/g‐C 3 N 4 nanocomposite photocatalyst with enhanced visible‐light‐driven photocatalytic hydrogen production
Author(s) -
Shi Weilong,
Wang Jingbo,
Yang Shuang,
Lin Xue,
Guo Feng,
Shi Junyou
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.6398
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , ternary operation , nanocomposite , hydrogen production , heterojunction , visible spectrum , graphitic carbon nitride , hydrogen , chemical engineering , photochemistry , nanotechnology , catalysis , chemistry , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , computer science , engineering , programming language
BACKGROUND Photocatalytic hydrogen (H 2 ) production using sunlight is a promising solution for obtaining clean renewable energy. Therefore, the study of efficient, nontoxic and stable photocatalysts is very important. RESULTS A novel ternary carbon dots/cobalt monoxide/graphitic carbon nitride (CDs/CoO/g‐C 3 N 4 ) composite photocatalyst was prepared by a simple solvothermal method for photocatalytic H 2 production under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). Compared with single semiconductors CoO and g‐C 3 N 4 , and binary composite CoO/g‐C 3 N 4 , the ternary CDs/CoO/g‐C 3 N 4 nanocomposite exhibited higher photocatalytic performance. The optimal photocatalytic H 2 rate of CDs/CoO/g‐C 3 N 4 photocatalyst was 987.4 μmol g −1 ·h −1 with the apparent quantum efficiency of 2.39% at 420 nm. This enhanced photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the synergy effect of strong absorption and electron buffer property of CDs as well as the merits of the internal heterojunction formed between CoO and g‐C 3 N 4 . CONCLUSIONS This work provides a new approach to the design of a high‐efficiency composite photocatalyst for converting solar energy into chemical fuel. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry