Fabricated noble-metal free Co2B/g-C3N4 photocatalyst with 2D/2D structure achieved remarkable water splitting performance from visible to near-infrared wavelengths. (1st February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Jun-ying; Guo, Rui-tang; Pan, Wei-guo; Zhou, Wei-guo
• Is Part Of: Fuel. Volume 333(2023)Part 1
• Publication Date: 2023-02-01
• Subjects: Co2B nanosheets -- Resembled SPR effect -- Near-infrared response -- C3N4 photocatalyst -- H2 production; Fuel -- Periodicals; Coal -- Periodicals; Coal; Fuel; Periodicals; 662.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.126280
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-2361

Abstract

Highlights: Co2 B/CN triggered the water splitting reaction from visible to NIR regions. "SPR effect" that noble metal featured was fabricated in the amorphous Co2 B nanosheets. Optimized Co2 B/CN catalyst showed the activity for H2 evolution outperformed Pt/CN. Amorphous featured Co2 B nanosheets provided massive active sites for reaction. The promoted charge transfer and the inhibited e - /h + recombination are available on Co2 B/CN. Abstract: Developing noble-metal-free photocatalysts to address the challenges of high recombination rate of electrons and holes and poor optical response is high desirable for water splitting. Herein, cobalt boride (Co2 B) nanosheets with amorphous phases ordered in short-range but disordered in long-range was fabricated, and coupled with graphic carbon nitride (CN) photocatalysts in the form of B( δ− )–Co( δ+ )–N( δ− ) bonding states through an in-situ chemical reduction method. The optimized Co2 B/CN nanohybrids exhibited a H2 evolution rate of 56.86 μmol/h with the highest AQY up to 22.8 %, outperforming than that of Pt decorated CN. Theoretical calculation by DFT verify the characterization results and show that Co active sites on Co2 B have better performance of adsorbing H atoms and desorbing hydrogen. The disordered structure of Co2 B nanosheets contributed to water splitting performance by providing abundant active sites while metallic nature of Co2 B facilitated electrons transfer and inhibited the recombination of electrons and holes. Moreover, theoretical calculation suggested that the high concentration of free carriers endowed Co2 B with an resembled SPR effect, thereby increasing the light response of CN and triggering the reaction from visible-light region extended to the near-infrared region up to 800 nm.