A novel g-C3N4 based photocathode for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution. Issue 9 (19th January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dong, Yuming; Chen, Yanmei; Jiang, Pingping; Wang, Guangli; Wu, Xiuming; Wu, Ruixian
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 6:Issue 9(2016)
• Page Start: 7465
• Page End: 7473
• Publication Date: 2016-01-19
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra23265a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Novel and stable g-C3 N4 based photocathode was designed and prepared with excellent activity for PEC hydrogen production without external co-catalyst. Abstract : Nowadays, the fabrication of photocathodes with high light-harvesting capability and charge transfer efficiency is a key challenge for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. In this paper, a novel graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 ) based photocathode was designed, prepared and used as a photocathode for hydrogen generation from water. Here we employed g-C3 N4 as a photosensitizer and co-catalyst for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution for the first time. The g-C3 N4 based photocathode exhibited superior light absorbance and excellent photoactivity. Under irradiation, the photocurrent response of the g-C3 N4 /NiO photocathode at a bias potential of 0 vs. RHE is approximately ten times that of the NiO photoelectrode and twenty times that of the g-C3 N4 photoelectrode. And the g-C3 N4 /NiO photocathode has excellent activity for hydrogen production with nearly 100% Faraday efficiency without external co-catalyst and buffer solution. Moreover, the g-C3 N4 /NiO photoelectrode showed superior stability both in nitrogen-saturated and air-saturated neutral environments.