Bi2O3/ g-C3N4 nanocomposites as proficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation from aqueous glycerol solutions beneath visible light. Issue 16 (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alhaddad, Maha; Navarro, R.M.; Hussein, M.A.; Mohamed, R.M.
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 46:Issue 16(2020)Part A
• Page Start: 24873
• Page End: 24881
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: H2 production -- β-Bi2O3/g-C3N4 -- Nanocomposites -- Photocatalyst -- Glycerol; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2020.06.271
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract: A sequence of Bi2 O3 /g-C3 N4 nanocomposites with diverse Bi2 O3 content (0.5–5 molar %) has been synthesized by the sonication-mixture method using mesoporous β-Bi2 O3 and g-C3 N4 and utilized as efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation from aqueous glycerol solutions beneath visible light irradiation. Mesoporous Bi2 O3 particles were effectively integrated at the exterior of two-dimensional (2D) g-C3 N4 nanolayers producing effective heterojunctions that facilitate the charge transference amongst g-C3 N4 and Bi2 O3 and minimize the recombination of photocharges. The number and efficiency of the heterojunctions in the Bi2 O3 /g-C3 N4 nanocomposites depend on the Bi2 O3 amount, reaching the optimal development at 3.0 molar % of Bi2 O3 . The maximum H2 production was then obtained on the 3.0% β-Bi2 O3 /g-C3 N4 nanocomposite that achieves a production (8600 μmol g −1 ) 20-fold greater than that obtained on bare β-Bi2 O3 and g-C3 N4 counterparts. The improvement in the photoactivity of Bi2 O3 /g-C3 N4 nanocomposites was analyzed taking into account the differences in the capability of the nanocomposites to fascinate visible light and the efficiency of detaching the photoinduced charges derived from the different Bi2 O3 content in the nanocomposites.