Constructing direct Z-scheme photocatalysts with black N–TiO2-x/C and Cd0.5Zn0.5S for efficient H2 production. (19th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wei, Tingting; Jin, Zhanbin; Wang, Yumeng; Li, Fengyan; Xu, Lin
• Is Part Of: International journal of hydrogen energy. Volume 46:Number 27(2021)
• Page Start: 14236
• Page End: 14246
• Publication Date: 2021-04-19
• Subjects: Photocatalytic H2 evolution -- Zn0.5Cd0.5S -- Solid solution -- Z-scheme -- N–TiO2-x/C; Hydrogen as fuel -- Periodicals; Hydrogène (Combustible) -- Périodiques; Hydrogen as fuel; Periodicals; 665.81
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2021.01.159
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0360-3199

Abstract

Abstract: Black N doped TiO2-x nanoparticles loaded on the carbon framework (N–TiO2-x /C, NTC) were successfully fabricated by sol-gel method. In this work, the synthesized NTC material was combined with Cd0.5 Zn0.5 S (ZCS) short nanorods, forming a direct Z-scheme NTC/ZCS photocatalyst without using of electron mediator. The free radicals trapping experiment was also conducted through the degradation of RhB to determine photocatalytic mechanism. As a result, the 2% NTC/ZCS exhibited an optimal photocatalytic H2 production rate which is up to 36.6 mmol/h/g and about 5.2 times higher than that of pristine ZCS nanorods. The apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of the 2% NTC/ZCS hybrids at wavelength 420 nm was calculated to 51.2%. Moreover, long-term drying increases the close contact between NTC and ZCS, and this firm contact interface can promote charge transfer and improve photocatalytic stability of NTC/ZCS composite. Graphical abstract: In this work, a direct Z-scheme 2-NTC/ZCS heterojunction, in which the NTC:ZCS mass ratio was 2%, exhibited an optimal photocatalytic H2 production rate which is up to 36.6 mmol/h/g and about 5.2 times higher than that of pristine ZCS nanorods. The apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of the 2-NTC/ZCS hybrids at wavelength 420 nm was calculated to 51.2%. Image 1 Highlights: Black N–TiO2-x /C sample was prepared by sol-gel method using C2 H4 N4 as a source of nitrogen and carbon. A direct Z-scheme heterojunction without using of electron mediator was synthesized between Zn0.5 Cd0.5 S and N–TiO2-x /C. The photocatalytic mechanism was investigated by free radicals trapping experiment.