Conjugated polyene-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride with enhanced photocatalytic water-splitting efficiency. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Haiping; Lee, Ha-Young; Park, Gi-Sang; Lee, Byong-June; Park, Jong-Deok; Shin, Cheol-Hwan; Hou, Wanguo; Yu, Jong-Sung
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 129(2018)
• Page Start: 637
• Page End: 645
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2017.12.048
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: Photoactivity of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 ) is seriously restricted by high recombination rate of photoinduced charge carriers. Herein, a g-C3 N4 /conjugated polyene (CP) complex is synthesized for the first time via a simple low-temperature calcination process. Lower photoluminescence intensity, longer fluorescence lifetimes, and higher photocurrent density of this complex than those of pure g-C3 N4 indicate that CP works effectively as electron acceptors and quickly shuttles electrons through its high conductive network to decrease the recombination rate of photogenerated electrons and holes of g-C3 N4 and improve the photocatalytic hydrogen production rate from 810 to 1270 μ mol/g/h under visible light irradiation. The complex prepared by calcination at 340 °C exhibits better photoactivity than those at 240 and 400 °C. Hydrogen bonds between g-C3 N4 and CP not only help to transfer electrons, but also fix CP molecules firmly on the surfaces of g-C3 N4 . This complex shows an excellent physicochemical stability in the photocatalytic process as well. This work provides not only a novel cost-effective way towards the preparation of new efficient gC3 N4 based complexes with better photoactivity, but also a new modification route to other photocatalysts for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production. Graphical abstract: Image 1