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Nitrogen Vacancy‐Induced Deposition of Pd Nanoparticles onto g‐C 3 N 4 with Greatly Improved Photocatalytic Activity in H 2 Evolution
Author(s) -
Yao Yuan,
Ren Guangmin,
Li Zizhen,
Bai Hongcun,
Hu Xiude,
Meng Xiangchao
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
solar rrl
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.544
H-Index - 37
ISSN - 2367-198X
DOI - 10.1002/solr.202100145
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , nanoparticle , vacancy defect , visible spectrum , band gap , nitrogen , deposition (geology) , fermi level , charge carrier , nanotechnology , photochemistry , optoelectronics , chemical engineering , chemistry , catalysis , crystallography , physics , paleontology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , sediment , engineering , biology , quantum mechanics , electron
C 3 N 4 exhibits excellence in photocatalytic water splitting. However, some hindrances should be overcome before its wide application. Herein, nitrogen vacancies (NVs) are successfully introduced in C 3 N 4 . As‐fabricated NVs act as targets to induce the deposition of Pd nanoparticles (NPs). Photocatalytic activity in H 2 evolution for C 3 N 4 is improved from none to 10.12 μmol h −1 g cat −1 in the presence of NVs, and to 287.94 μmol h −1 g cat −1 with the modifications of both NVs and Pd NPs. The great improvement may be due to that: 1) the formation of NVs can drive up the Fermi level and optimize the band structure of C 3 N 4 ; 2) the addition of the impure energy level of NV within the bandgap expands the utilization of the solar spectrum; 3) Pd NPs with the surface plasmonic resonance (SPR) effect are capable of absorbing more visible‐light photons; and 4) Pd acts as a reservoir of photogenerated charge carriers, suppressing its recombination. The mechanism of the enhancements is explored in detail and comprehensively discussed in this work.