Microwave heating preparation of phosphorus doped g-C3N4 and its enhanced performance for photocatalytic H2 evolution in the help of Ag3PO4 nanoparticles. (21st May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Pengfei; Chen, Lu; Ge, Shifeng; Zhang, Wenqian; Wu, Mengfei; Xing, Pingxing; Rotamond, Twum Barimah; Lin, Hongjun; Wu, Ying; He, Yiming
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 45:Number 28(2020)
• Page Start: 14354
• Page End: 14367
• Publication Date: 2020-05-21
• Subjects: Microwave heating -- Ag3PO4 -- P-g-C3N4 -- Photocatalytic H2 evolution; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.03.169
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: This paper synthesized a novel Ag3 PO4 /P-g-C3 N4 via a two-step chemical route i.e. microwave-assisted heating and ion-exchange procedures. The as-synthesized hybrid presented high efficiency for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Systematic investigation indicated that phosphorus was successfully doped into the g-C3 N4 framework through microwave heating the mixture of melamine and NH4 H2 PO4 for 40 min, which increases the BET surface area, broadens the visible light response region, and elevates the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs. The Ag3 PO4 nanoparticles were decorated on the optimal P-g-C3 N4 sample via an ion-exchange process. Due to the instability of Ag3 PO4, the formed composite is actually Ag/Ag3 PO4 /P-g-C3 N4 photocatalyst. The introduced Ag3 PO4 nanoparticles further improves the charge separation efficiency of P-g-C3 N4, but slightly affects the surface area and optical property, which highlights the key role of the separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs in photocatalytic reaction. The best Ag3 PO4 /P-g-C3 N4 hybrid shows a photocatalytic H2 production rate of 1221 and 90.2 μmol g −1 h −1 under simulated sunlight and visible light, respectively. This value is 2.1 and 1.4 times greater than that of g-C3 N4 and P-g-C3 N4, respectively. Meanwhile, the Ag3 PO4 /P-g-C3 N4 displayed high photocatalytic stability. A probable photocatalytic mechanism of the hybrid was also suggested. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Ag3 PO4 /P-g-C3 N4 was prepared via a combination of microwave-assisted heating and ion-exchange processes. Ag3 PO4 /P-g-C3 N4 presented much better performance in photocatalytic H2 evolution than g-C3 N4. The high performance was mainly ascribed to the improved charge separation in the bulk and surface of g-C3 N4 . Z-scheme mechanism worked in the Ag3 PO4 /P-g-C3 N4 composite.