Sulfur and carbon co-doped g-C3N4 microtubes with enhanced photocatalytic H2 production activity

doi:10.1007/s11708-023-0899-z

Front. Energy

2024, Vol. 18

Issue (1) : 110-121 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-023-0899-z

Sulfur and carbon co-doped g-C₃N₄ microtubes with enhanced photocatalytic H₂ production activity

Yang GE¹, Quanhao SHEN¹, Qi ZHANG¹, Naixu LI¹(

), Danchen LU¹, Zhaoming ZHANG², Zhiwei FU³(

), Jiancheng ZHOU¹(

)

¹. School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
². Shangdong Yellow Triangle Biotechnology Industry Research Institute Co., Ltd., Dongying 257091, China
³. Xuzhou B&C Chemical Co., Ltd., Xuzhou 221300, China

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Abstract

Metal-free graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) has captured significant attention as a low-cost and efficient hydrogen production photocatalyst through. Effectively regulating the microstructure and accelerating the separation of photogenerated carriers remain crucial strategies for promoting the photocatalytic performance of this material. Herein, a novel sulfur–carbon co-doped g-C₃N₄ (SCCN) hierarchical microtubules filled with abundant nanosheets inside by thermal polymerization is reported. Numerous nanosheets create abundant pores and cavities inside the SCCN microtubes, thereby increasing the specific surface area of g-C₃N₄ and providing sufficient reactant attachment sites. Besides, the hierarchical structure of SCCN microtubules strengthens the reflection and scattering of light, and the utilization of visible light is favorably affected. More importantly, co-doping S and C has greatly improved the photocatalytic performance of graphitic carbon nitride, optimized the band gap structure and enhanced the photogenerated carrier splitting. Consequently, the SCCN exhibits a remarkable photocatalytic H₂ evolution rate of 4868 μmol/(g·h). This work demonstrates the potential of multi-nonmetal doped g-C₃N₄ as the ideal photocatalyst for H₂ evolution.

Keywords carbon nitride photocatalysis hydrogen production

Corresponding Author(s): Naixu LI,Zhiwei FU,Jiancheng ZHOU

About author:

Online First Date: 16 November 2023 Issue Date: 27 March 2024

Cite this article:

Yang GE,Quanhao SHEN,Qi ZHANG, et al. Sulfur and carbon co-doped g-C₃N₄ microtubes with enhanced photocatalytic H₂ production activity[J]. Front. Energy, 2024, 18(1): 110-121.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/10.1007/s11708-023-0899-z
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fie/EN/Y2024/V18/I1/110

Fig.1 XRD patterns and FT-IR spectra of as-obtained samples.

Fig.2 SEM and TEM images of as-obtained samples.

Fig.3 Nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherm and corresponding pore-size distribution curves (inset) of SCN and 0.10SCCN.

Fig.4 X-ray photoelectron spectra corresponding to SCN and 0.10SCCN samples.

Tab.1 Surface element composition (at.%) and C/N ratio of SCN and 0.10SCCN obtained from XPS survey spectra

Tab.2 Binding energy and area ratios of 2p_3/2, 2p_1/2, and C−SO_x−C in S 2p spectra of SCN and 0.10SCCN

Fig.5 Band structure of as-prepared photocatalysts.

Fig.6 Photoelectrochemical characterization for as-prepared photocatalysts.

Fig.7 Photocatalytic H₂ production performances of SCN and SCCN samples.

Fig.8 Surface reaction mechanism for the photocatalytic conversion of H₂.

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