Issue 36, 2015

Visible light-driven novel g-C3N4/NiFe-LDH composite photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity towards water oxidation and reduction reaction

Abstract

Exploiting the advantage of a layered architecture, layered graphitic carbon nitride (CN) and NiFe-layered double hydroxide (LDH) have been coupled in the present investigation to design a series of highly efficient novel CNLDH composites for visible light-induced photocatalytic H2 and O2 evolution. The syntheses of these composites were carried out using a facile weight impregnation method while varying the wt% of CN on LDH. The structural, optical, and morphological properties of these composites were characterized by various physicochemical techniques. The results indicate a tuned-in band gap energy within the range of pure LDH to pure CN. In addition, the remarkable quenching of the PL signal and prolonged photogenerated charge lifetime confirmed by TRPL spectra demonstrates the excellent photocatalytic activity of these composites. The activity could be ascribed to the dispersion of exfoliated CN over the brucite layer of LDH, in which strong energy transfer takes place in terms of charge carriers. The visible light-induced photocatalytic H2 and O2 evolution study resulted in an enhancement in the activity of the CNLDH10 composite with a H2 evolution rate of 1488 μmol 2 h−1 and O2 evolution rate of 886 μmol 2 h−1. The high photocatalytic activities of these composites may be due to good dispersion of exfoliated CN over the brucite layer of edge-shared MO6 octahedra, higher life time of charge carriers, low PL intensity, appropriate band gap energy and enhancement in photocurrent density.

Graphical abstract: Visible light-driven novel g-C3N4/NiFe-LDH composite photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity towards water oxidation and reduction reaction

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Jul 2015
Accepted
03 Aug 2015
First published
17 Aug 2015

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015,3, 18622-18635

Visible light-driven novel g-C3N4/NiFe-LDH composite photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity towards water oxidation and reduction reaction

S. Nayak, L. Mohapatra and K. Parida, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2015, 3, 18622 DOI: 10.1039/C5TA05002B

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