Synergistic utilization of magnetic rGO/NiFe2O4-g-C3N4 S-Scheme heterostructure photocatalyst with enhanced charge carrier separation and transfer: A highly stable and robust photocatalyst for efficient solar fuel (hydrogen) generation. Issue 3 (1st February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hafeez, Hafeez Yusuf; Mohammed, J.; Ndikilar, Chifu Ebenezer; Suleiman, Abdussalam Balarabe; Sa'id, Rabia Salihu; Muhammad, Ibrahim
• Is Part Of: Ceramics international. Volume 49:Issue 3(2023)
• Page Start: 5269
• Page End: 5278
• Publication Date: 2023-02-01
• Subjects: H2 generation -- g-C3N4 nanosheets -- NiFe2O4 particle -- Charge carrier separation; Ceramics -- Periodicals; Céramique industrielle -- Périodiques; Ceramics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2022.10.045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-8842

Abstract

Abstract: Graphitic-C3 N4 is the prime photocatalyst for solar energy conversion applications owing to its inexpensive, non-toxic, low gap energy, chemical and thermal stability. Herein, a rGO/NiFe2 O4 -g-C3 N4 (RNC-3) hybrid heterostructure photocatalyst was fabricated to realize the effective charge carrier transfer and efficient solar fuel (H2 ) generation. The photocatalytic H2 generation activity was evaluated under solar light irradiation in the presence of triethanolamine (TEOA) as a hole scavenger. The optimized co-catalysts loadings are 15 wt% and 3 wt% for NiFe2 O4 and rGO, respectively. The results obtained show that RNC-3 hybrid heterostructure is an efficient and stable photocatalyst towards water-splitting and presented H2 generation activity of 11, 817 μmolg -1 h -1, approximately ∼4 and 76 times higher than NiFe2 O4 -g-C3 N4 and g-C3 N4 nanosheets, respectively. Notably, the solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency of 2.44% was achieved, prominently surpassing many reported g-C3 N4 -based materials. This outstanding performance can be related to the substantial band gap reduction from 2.75 to 2.48 eV and significant PL quenching was observed after the incorporation of NiFe2 O4 and rGO, which dramatically improved charge carrier separation and transfer, thereby enhancing the photocatalytic performance. Furthermore, RNC-3 exhibits convenient magnetic recovery, practical reusability, and high activity, making it a potential visible-light responsive photocatalyst for efficient water-splitting applications.