Integration of plasmonic effect and S-scheme heterojunction into gold decorated carbon nitride/cuprous oxide catalyst for photocatalysis. (1st August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mu, Feihu; Miao, Xiaowei; Cao, Jihui; Zhao, Wei; Yang, Gang; Zeng, Hehua; Li, Shijie; Sun, Cheng
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 360(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08-01
• Subjects: Cuprous oxide -- Step-scheme -- Photocatalytic -- Removal of pollutants; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131948
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: A plasmonic Step-scheme heterojunction Au/g-C3 N4 /Cu2 O photocatalyst was fabricated for the degradation of pollutants and energy generation. The removal of pollutants (oxytetracycline hydrochloride, OTH) and hydrogen evolution experiments showed that the catalyst had satisfactory stability and perfect photocatalytic performance. Among these catalysts, the 4-Au/g-C3 N4 /Cu2 O displays the highest catalytic performance with the OTH removal efficiency as high as 94.8%. For the catalytic H2 evolution, the 4-Au/g-C3 N4 /Cu2 O reveals the optimal H2 generation rate (552.6 μmol g −1 . h −1 ), which is about 13.4 times higher than that of the bare Cu2 O sample. The satisfactory photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the efficient interfacial charge separation, the high light absorption capacity induced by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Au nanoparticles, and the formation of Step-scheme heterojunction retaining strong photocatalytic oxidation and reduction capability. The charge density difference was also calculated to verify the existence of the built-in electric field, which was the driving force for the formation of Step-scheme heterojunction structure. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Step-scheme Au/g-C3 N4 /Cu2 O was synthesized for oxytetracycline hydrochloride degradation and hydrogen generation. Internal electric field will assist charge transfer. The charge density difference between g-C3 N4 and Cu2 O was calculated. A plasmonic Step-scheme photocatalytic mechanism was proposed based on the experiments and simulations.