Photocatalytic Activity of Nanoheterostructures C3N4/CoTiO3 in Hydrogen Evolution from Water–Alcohol Solutions Under Visible Light Irradiation

• Published in: Theoretical and experimental chemistry Vol. 60; no. 1; pp. 31 - 40
• Main Authors: Ovcharov, M. L., Stara, T. R., Korzhak, G. V., Kuchmiy, S. Ya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.03.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Carbon nitride; Catalytic activity; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chemistry/Food Science; Ethanol; Hydrogen evolution; Infrared spectroscopy; Light irradiation; Luminescence; Nanocomposites; Photocatalysis; Spectrophotometry; crystalline carbon nitride; cobalt titanate; S-scheme; photocatalysis; molecular hydrogen
• ISSN: 0040-5760; 1573-935X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11237-024-09806-8

Nanocomposites based on crystalline carbon nitride (CGCN) and cobalt titanate (CoTiO 3 ) have been synthesized and characterized by a number of physico-chemical methods (electron microscopy, electron and IR spectrophotometry, luminescence spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction). It is concluded based on the analysis of the obtained results, in particular, the luminescence characteristics and Mott–Schottky dependences, that the S-scheme of separation of photogenerated charges between components is realized during the formation of CGCN/CoTiO 3 composites. This leads to a decrease in the recombination of electron–hole pairs and an increase in the efficiency of hydrogen evolution from water–ethanol solutions when compared to the presence of CGCN. The effective quantum yield of hydrogen formation is ~90% under light irradiation at λ = 405 nm with the participation of the composite of the optimal composition.