Enhanced visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of sulfur-doped polymeric g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} photocatalysts
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, College of Science, China University of Petroleum Beijing, No. 18 Fuxue Rd., Beijing 102249 (China)
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Science, China University of Petroleum Beijing, No. 18 Fuxue Rd., Beijing 102249 (China)
Graphical abstract: - Highlights: • Sulfur-doped g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} was prepared using thiourea as sulfur source. • The sulfur-doped g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} shows significantly enhanced H{sub 2} evolution activity. • The doped sulfur species plays key roles in the improvement of H{sub 2} production. • Photocatalytic mechanism is proposed based on the experimental results. • The mechanism is confirmed by PL spectra and transient photocurrent curves. - Abstract: Visible light-activated sulfur-doped g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} photocatalysts were successfully synthesized using thiourea as sulfur source. The obtained photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microcopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and transient photocurrent response. The sulfur-doped g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} photocatalysts show beneficial effects on visible light absorption, electron–hole pair generation and separation. The sulfur species doped in the samples was identified as S{sup 2−} to replace N atoms in the g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} framework. The photocatalytic activities of the sulfur-doped g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} under visible light were evaluated by hydrogen evolution from water splitting in aqueous solution containing methanol. The sulfur-doped g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} photocatalyst showed the highest photocatalytic performance with H{sub 2} evolution rate of 12.16 μmol h{sup −1}, about 6 times higher than un-doped g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4}. It can be concluded that the sulfur species play a vital role and act as active sites in the photocatalytic reaction. This novel sulfur-doped g-C{sub 3}N{sub 4} can be potentially used in energy and environmental applications.
- OSTI ID:
- 22285120
- Journal Information:
- Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 48, Issue 10; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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