g-C3N4-wrapped nickel doped zinc oxide/carbon core-double shell microspheres for high-performance photocatalytic hydrogen production

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 2023-04, Vol.635, p.83-93
• Main Authors: Liang, Shuang, Sui, Guozhe, Guo, Dongxuan, Luo, Ze, Xu, Rongping, Yao, Hong, Li, Jinlong, Wang, Chao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon; Core-double shell; g-C3N4; Nickel doping; Z-scheme heterojunction; ZnO
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2022.12.120

Ni-ZnO@C/g-C3N4 core-double shell microspheres have been constructed by self-sacrificing template method and exhibit the prominent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance. [Display omitted] •Ni doping broadens the light absorption range.•The hollow core-double shell structure improves the photon utilization efficiency.•The Z-scheme electron transfer path reduces the composite rate of photogenerated carriers. The development of efficient heterojunctions with enhanced photocatalytic properties is considered a promising approach for photocatalytic hydrogen production. In this study, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-wrapped nickel-doped zinc oxide/carbon (Ni-ZnO@C/g-C3N4) core-double shell heterojunctions with unique core-double shell structures were employed as efficient photocatalysts through an innovative approach. Ni doping can enhance the intensity and range of visible light absorption in ZnO, and the carbon core coupled with the hollow double-shell structure can accelerate the charge transfer rate and improve the photon utilization efficiency. Meanwhile, the construction of the Z-scheme heterojunction extended the electron-hole pair transport path. In addition, the Z-scheme charge-transfer mechanism of Ni-ZnO@C/g-C3N4 under simulated sunlight was verified by photoluminescence (PL) and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments. As a result, the obtained photocatalyst acquired a high hydrogen evolution rate of 336.08 μmol g−1h−1, which is 36.49 times higher than that of pristine ZnO. Overall, this work may provide a pathway for the construction of highly efficient photocatalysts with unique core-double shell structures.