Issue 18, 2019

Core–shell g-C3N4/Pt/TiO2 nanowires for simultaneous photocatalytic H2 evolution and RhB degradation under visible light irradiation

Abstract

Core–shell g-C3N4/Pt/TiO2 nanowire structures were successfully synthesized through a facile two-step synthetic methodology, involving photodepositing Pt nanoparticles on the surface of TiO2 nanowires and subsequent growth of g-C3N4 (CN) layers via thermal evaporation of urea. The as-prepared CN/Pt/TiO2 composites show a higher photocurrent density compared to CN/TiO2. The CN/Pt/TiO2 photocatalysts exhibit an enhanced H2 evolution rate of 8.93 μmol h−1 under visible light irradiation, which is 1.25 times higher than that of CN/TiO2 (7.15 μmol h−1), while Pt/TiO2 and TiO2 nanowires do not show any visible light responses. Our experiments demonstrate for the first time that CN/Pt/TiO2 with a unique core–shell nanowire structure of semiconductor–metal–semiconductor enables concurrent hydrogen evolution through photo-induced water splitting and RhB degradation by photo-oxidation in the visible range. This result is probably attributable to the formation of a heterojunction and the Pt nanoclusters in CN/Pt/TiO2, facilitating the electron transfer from the LUMO of g-C3N4 to that of TiO2 and generating different active sites upon photo-absorption in the CN layers. Our work provides a feasible way to obtain H2 while treating sewage using photocatalysis.

Graphical abstract: Core–shell g-C3N4/Pt/TiO2 nanowires for simultaneous photocatalytic H2 evolution and RhB degradation under visible light irradiation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Jun 2019
Accepted
04 Aug 2019
First published
05 Aug 2019

Catal. Sci. Technol., 2019,9, 4898-4908

Core–shell g-C3N4/Pt/TiO2 nanowires for simultaneous photocatalytic H2 evolution and RhB degradation under visible light irradiation

H. Dou, Y. Qin, F. Pan, D. Long, X. Rao, G. Q. Xu and Y. Zhang, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2019, 9, 4898 DOI: 10.1039/C9CY01086F

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