Constructing Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Ultra-Thin Nanosheets with Z-Scheme Charge Transfer Pathway for Efficient Photocatalytic Water Splitting
Yuan Guo,
Wanqing Liu,
Wei Duan,
Siyu Wang,
Liqun Jia,
Guoqing Zhang,
Baolin Zhu,
Weiping Huang,
Shoumin Zhang
Affiliations
Yuan Guo
Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Material Chemistry (MOE), TKL of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Wanqing Liu
Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Material Chemistry (MOE), TKL of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Wei Duan
Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Material Chemistry (MOE), TKL of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Siyu Wang
Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Material Chemistry (MOE), TKL of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Liqun Jia
Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Material Chemistry (MOE), TKL of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Guoqing Zhang
Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Material Chemistry (MOE), TKL of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Baolin Zhu
Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Material Chemistry (MOE), TKL of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Weiping Huang
Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Material Chemistry (MOE), TKL of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Shoumin Zhang
Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Material Chemistry (MOE), TKL of Metal and Molecule Based Material Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
Photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen generation is a significant pathway for sustainable energy conversion and production. The photocatalysts with a Z-scheme water splitting charge transfer pathway is superior due to the good separation and migration ability of photoexcited charge carriers. Herein, Co3O4/g-C3N4 photocatalysts with Z-scheme charge transfer pathway were successfully constructed by an electrostatic interaction-annealing method. The as-prepared Co3O4/g-C3N4 ultra-thin nanosheets were tested and analyzed by XRD, EA, ICP, SEM, TEM, AFM, XPS, UV-Vis DRS, PL and photoelectrochemical measurements. Moreover, the influences of fabrication parameters on performance of Co3O4/g-C3N4 catalysts were investigated, and 0.5% Co3O4/g-C3N4 exhibited the optimal activity. Based on the characterization and catalytic performance, the Z-scheme charge transfer pathway of Co3O4/g-C3N4 was established and put forward. To further improve the catalytic performance of Co3O4/g-C3N4, 0.5% Pt was added as a co-catalyst. The obtained Pt/0.5% Co3O4/g-C3N4 was recyclable and remained the original catalytic water splitting performance within 20 h. The modification of Co3O4 and Pt improved the separation and migration of e− and h+, and induced the increased hydrogen evolution rate of g-C3N4.
