A visible-light-driven heterojunction for enhanced photocatalytic water splitting over Ta2O5 modified g-C3N4 photocatalyst

The photocatalytic water splitting for generation of clean hydrogen energy has received increasingly attention in the field of photocatalysis. In this study, the Ta2O5/g-C3N4 heterojunctions were successfully fabricated via a simple one-step heating strategy. The photocatalytic activity of as-prepar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of hydrogen energy 2017-03, Vol.42 (10), p.6738-6745
Main Authors: Hong, Yuanzhi, Fang, Zhenyuan, Yin, Bingxin, Luo, Bifu, Zhao, Yong, Shi, Weidong, Li, Changsheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
g-C3N4
Heterojunction
Hydrogen evolution
Photocatalytic activity
Ta2O5
Water splitting
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Summary:The photocatalytic water splitting for generation of clean hydrogen energy has received increasingly attention in the field of photocatalysis. In this study, the Ta2O5/g-C3N4 heterojunctions were successfully fabricated via a simple one-step heating strategy. The photocatalytic activity of as-prepared photocatalysts were evaluated by water splitting for hydrogen evolution under visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). Compared to the pristine g-C3N4, the obtained heterojunctions exhibited remarkably improved hydrogen production performance. It was found that the 7.5%TO/CN heterojunction presented the best photocatalytic hydrogen evolution efficiency, which was about 4.2 times higher than that of pure g-C3N4. Moreover, the 7.5%TO/CN sample also displayed excellent photochemical stability even after 20 h photocatalytic test. By further experimental study, the enhanced photocatalytic activity is mainly attributed to the significantly improve the interfacial charge separation in the heterojunction between g-C3N4 and Ta2O5. This work provides a facile approach to design g-C3N4-based photocatalyst and develops an efficient visible-light-driven heterojunction for application in solar energy conversion. [Display omitted] •Ta2O5 modified g-C3N4 heterojunction were prepared by a one-step heating strategy.•The heterojunction can greatly enhance visible-light hydrogen evolution activity.•The 7.5%TO/CN exhibited best photoactivity and high photochemical stability.•The heterojunction can use as a promising candidate in solar energy conversion.
ISSN:0360-3199
1879-3487
DOI:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.12.055