Enhancement of visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution by bio-mimetic C-doped graphitic carbon nitride. (21st May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mohamed, Mohamad Azuwa; M. Zain, M.F.; Minggu, Lorna Jeffery; Kassim, Mohammad B.; Jaafar, Juhana; Saidina Amin, Nor Aishah; Mohd Hir, Zul Adlan; Rosmi, Mohamad Saufi
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 44:Number 26(2019)
• Page Start: 13098
• Page End: 13105
• Publication Date: 2019-05-21
• Subjects: Carbon doping -- Bio-template -- g-C3N4 -- Photocatalytic hydrogen production -- Light-harvesting; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2019.02.243
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Bio-mimetic C-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 ) with mesoporous microtubular structure has been prepared by a simple chemical wet bio-template impregnation approach (direct impregnation and hydrothermal impregnation) using urea as a precursor and kapok fibre as bio-template and in-situ carbon dopant. Our finding indicated that the hydrothermal impregnation had induced more in-situ C-doping in g-C3 N4 as compared to the direct impregnation approach. The introduction of in-situ C doping in the g-C3 N4 and the mesoporous microtubular structure remarkably enhanced light-harvesting capability up to near infrared regions. The photocurrent measurement and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis suggested that the bio-template C-doped g-C3 N4 exhibits a superior photoinduced electron-hole pairs separation efficiency due to C doping and mesoporous microtubular structure significantly promotes excellent conductivity and electron redistribution in the sample. C-doped graphitic carbon nitride sample prepared by the hydrothermal (HB/g-C3 N4 ) approach exhibits excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production with an H2 production rate of 216.8 μmol h −1 g −1 which was a 1.3 and 2.9 improvement over C-doped graphitic carbon nitride prepared by direct impregnation (DB/g-C3 N4 ) and pristine g-C3 N4, respectively. This study provides new insights into the development of low-cost and sustainable photocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Bio-mimetic C-doped g-C3 N4 using the facile bio-templating approach. In-situ carbon dopant improved photoinduced electron-holes separation. Improved solar light photocatalytic hydrogen production of pristine g-C3 N4 .