title: Graphitic C3N4Decorated with CoP Co-catalyst: Enhanced and Stable Photocatalytic H2Evolution Activity from Water under Visible-light Irradiation.
abstract: In this work, graphitic C3N4decorated with a CoP co-catalyst (g-C3N4/CoP) is reported for photocatalytic H2evolution reaction based on two-step hydrothermal and phosphidation method. The structure of g-C3N4/CoP is well confirmed by XRD, FTIR, TEM, XPS, and UV/Vis diffuse reflection spectra techniques. When the weight percentage of CoP loading is 3.4 wt % (g-C3N4/CoP-3.4 %), the highest H2evolution amount of 8.4×102μmol g-1is obtained, which is 1.1×103times than that over pure g-C3N4. This value also is comparable with that of g-C3N4loaded by the same amount of Pt. In cycling experiments, g-C3N4/CoP-3.4 % shows a stable photocatalytic activity. In addition, g-C3N4/CoP-3.4 % is an efficient photocatalyst for H2evolution under irradiation with natural solar light. Based on comparative photoluminescence emission spectra, photoelectrochemical I-t curves, EIS Nyquist plots, and polarization curves between g-C3N4/CoP-3.4 % and pure g-C3N4, it is concluded that the presence of the CoP co-catalyst accelerates the separation and transfer of photogenerated electrons of g-C3N4, thus resulting in improved photocatalytic activity in the H2evolution reaction.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center of Environmental Cleaning Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, 219 Ningliu Road, Nanjing, 210044, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Food Colloids and Biotechnology (Ministry of Education of China), School of Chemical and Material Engineering, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, 214122, China.
authors.forename: Pingping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, 76 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cai
keywords: co-catalyst; cobalt phosphide; graphitic carbon nitride; hydrogen evolution; photocatalysis