Fluorescein-sensitized Au/g-C3N4 nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light

Fluorescein-sensitized Au/g-C3N4 nanocomposite significantly enhances the visible light photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution from water in the presence of triethanolamine as sacrificial electron donor. [Display omitted] •Preparation of Au/g-C3N4 composite through protonation, adsorption and redu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Materials research bulletin 2018-06, Vol.102, p.362-368
Main Authors: Qian, Xiao-Bing, Peng, Wen, Huang, Jian-Hua
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ADSORPTION
CARBON NITRIDES
DEPOSITION
FLUORESCEIN
g-C3N4
GOLD
HYDROGEN
NANOCOMPOSITES
NANOPARTICLES
NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
PHOTOCATALYSIS
Photocatalytic H2 evolution
PHOTOCURRENTS
PHOTOLUMINESCENCE
RADIATION EFFECTS
Surface plasmon resonance
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
VISIBLE RADIATION
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Summary:Fluorescein-sensitized Au/g-C3N4 nanocomposite significantly enhances the visible light photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution from water in the presence of triethanolamine as sacrificial electron donor. [Display omitted] •Preparation of Au/g-C3N4 composite through protonation, adsorption and reduction.•Au nanoparticles with average diameter of 4.1 nm are homogeneous deposited on g-C3N4.•The H2 evolution rate of Au/g-C3N4 raises by 22 times after fluorescein sensitization.•Efficient transfer of photo-generated electrons among fluorescein, g-C3N4 and Au. Au/g-C3N4 composite is prepared through protonation of g-C3N4, followed by electrostatic adsorption of AuCl4− and subsequent chemical reduction. The homogeneous deposition of Au nanoparticles with an average diameter of 4.1 nm on g-C3N4 is confirmed by TEM measurement. Compared with pure g-C3N4, Au/g-C3N4 composite exhibits a significant improvement in the photocatalytic activity for H2 production from water in the presence of triethanolamine as sacrificial electron donor under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). Significantly, the rate of H2 production increases more than 22 times by adding fluorescein in the photocatalytic reaction system. It is more than 25 times higher than that of protonated g-C3N4 in the presence of fluorescein. Based on our experimental results, the mechanism of photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution over fluorescein-sensitized Au/g-C3N4 nanocomposite is accordingly proposed. The highly-improved performance is ascribed to the efficient transfer of photo-generated electrons among photo-excited fluorescein molecule, g-C3N4 and Au, which is supported by photoluminescence spectra and transient photocurrent responses.
ISSN:0025-5408
1873-4227
DOI:10.1016/j.materresbull.2018.02.056