g-C3N4 photoanode for photoelectrocatalytic synergistic pollutant degradation and hydrogen evolution

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 467-468; pp. 658 - 665
• Main Authors: Zhao, Xiaolong, Pan, Donglai, Chen, Xiaofeng, Li, Ruping, Jiang, Tiange, Wang, Wenchao, Li, Guisheng, Leung, Dennis Y.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.02.2019
• Subjects: Degradation; Graphene oxide; Graphitic C3N4; Hydrogen evolution; Photoelectrocatalysis; Degradation; Photoelectrocatalysis; Graphitic C3N4; Graphene oxide; Hydrogen evolution
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.10.090

A highly active CNG1.0-Ni foam electrode was fabricated by electrophoretic deposition method for photoelectrocatalytic pollutants remove and H2 evolution. It exhibited high activity in synergetic organic pollutants degradation rate and H2 evolution rate in PEC reaction under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation by using Pt foil as cathode, owing to its excellent visible light respond, high photogenerated electron-hole pairs separation efficiency and robust skeleton. [Display omitted] •Strong visible light absorption.•Abundant active sites and short migration path of charge carriers.•Fast charge transfer from g-C3N4 to nickel foam through rGO bridge.•High charge carrier separation.•Synergistic H2 evolution and pollutant degradation. Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) technique for hydrogen evolution from water splitting and pollutant degradation is one of the most sustainable and environmental approaches for wastewater treatment and energy regeneration. Herein, a porous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/reduction graphene oxide (rGO) structure (CNG) is constructed via a solvothermal approach. By using a facile electrophoretic deposition method, CNG is deposited on nickel (Ni) foam with the formation of highly active CNG-Ni foam photoanode. rGO were utilized to load g-C3N4, and also acts as the bridge for accelerating the rate of electron transfer from g-C3N4 to Ni foam. The resulted photoanode exhibits an excellent photoelectrochemical performance for synergistic pollutant degradation and H2 evolution under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). Such excellent PEC activity is attributed to the strong visible-light absorption and fast electron transmission of the as-obtained photoanode. The visible light-driven photocurrent value of the optimal photoanode can be well maintained up to 24 h, indicating its high stability during the PEC process. This work also shows significance for paving a facile route to fabricating highly active photoelectrodes for environmental and energy applications.